Although we had known each for several years, it wasn’t until the stars finally aligned for us that we were able to go on our first date. We spent the evening laughing and catching up: he ordered a tropical burger, I passed off a beloved XtraTuf to a forgetful friend that stopped by our table, and Joseph and I built a tropical island from our garnishes and discarded vegetables. We should have known then that, try as we might to fight fate, destiny had crashed our two complex worlds together and we’ve been living on that dorky garnish island ever since. Sometimes that island was an actual -island- (looking at you, Kodiak); other times, it took the form of a mile high city, the Appalachian trail, the beaches of Mexico, the wilderness of Colorado mountains. And through it all, eight years together, we never once thought of stepping off the cozy island we had built together. Not when storms raged, and the rain poured, and we couldn’t see past the fog coming off the tide - we stuck it out. And when the smoke cleared, we mended what had been bruised or broken, discarded what we knew wasn’t serving us anymore, and planted another palm tree in its stead. Now, we have agreed that no other place could be right for either of us. At our wedding we will vow to always be caretakers of this paradise we have created for one another, and we couldn’t think of better people to share that with than you!