The Future Mr. and Mrs. DiMartino

Although Joseph and Maryssa both grew up just a few miles apart—Joe in Woodland Park and Maryssa in Totowa—their paths never truly crossed in high school. They both attended Passaic Valley Regional High School, where Joe was two years ahead of Maryssa. While they had certainly noticed each other over the years, their circles never overlapped, and they never had a chance to connect. That changed in July of 2021, thanks to a message on social media that would unexpectedly shift the course of their lives. After reconnecting, they made plans to meet for ice cream at Ben & Jerry’s. What started as a lighthearted first date quickly became something much more meaningful. Their conversation flowed effortlessly, and it became clear almost immediately that they shared the same core values, life goals, and sense of humor. Maryssa knew after their first date that Joseph was going to be someone important to her life, especially after he spent the entire date cleaning melting ice cream off of her with paper towels. On August 24th, 2021, a moment of fate added a small but memorable detail to their story. While helping her brother move into his college dorm on a random street in Philadelphia, PA, Maryssa noticed “M <3 J” carved in cement sidewalk. It felt like a sign. That night (even though they had already said "I love you" to one another) while she and Joe were watching a movie together, she looked over and asked, “Are you ever going to ask me to be your girlfriend?” Joe smiled and replied, “Do you want to be?” And from that moment forward, they’ve been inseparable. Their relationship began unexpectedly—and quickly became a partnership built on mutual respect, love, and the kind of understanding that only deepens with time. Through everything life has thrown at them, good or bad, Maryssa and Joe have faced it together.

To celebrate their four-year anniversary, the couple planned a weekend getaway to Newport, Rhode Island. What Maryssa didn’t know was that this trip would mark the beginning of a new chapter in their story. On August 22nd, 2025, Joe told Maryssa they had plans to visit a military museum that morning. But when their Uber pulled up to a luxury resort on Goat Island instead, Maryssa was completely confused. She was convinced Joe had entered the wrong address and kept insisting they were in the wrong place. Joe, staying calm and committed to the plan, gently convinced her to stay just a little longer to take a picture by the nearby lighthouse. Still a little skeptical, Maryssa agreed. She turned her back to take a photo of the stunning lighthouse—and when she turned around to show Joe the picture, he was already down on one knee. The setting was straight out of a dream. Joe had secretly reserved the entire Goat Island Lighthouse for just the two of them. It was private, peaceful, and incredibly romantic. A hidden photographer captured every second, and after Maryssa said yes (without hesitation!), the rest of the day turned into a surprise engagement photoshoot. See the "Gallery" tab for an inside peek into the day of the engagement! Behind the scenes, Joe’s mom and sisters played a huge role in helping bring the proposal to life. And before any of it happened, Joe had taken the time to ask Maryssa’s mother and stepfather for their blessing—a gesture that meant the world to her.