Foster and I met at Lost Province Brewing Co. our workplace at the time. For some of you who know fresh from Florida Foster he had quite the personality. He was suave, loud and jokester. (Still is) When he first started at Lost Province he seemed all cocky playboy to me. He had a reputation as our flirty server, a real snake charmer. It was never my vibe so I stayed away and rolled my eyes whenever he came around. Until one day we had a genuine conversation, one that impressed me. A conversation that highlighted his maturity and wit. From there he just kept popping up. He would give me rides home after work so I wouldn't walk in the dark, he'd ask me thought provoking questions, give me a book recommendations and just be an attentive friend. One day I made an announcement. I was getting ready to leave Boone, my time there had come to an end. I extended my apartment to my coworkers, a lovely yellow apartment on King Street. Foster inquired and made a plan to come over and see the place. Naturally I thought, "This is Foster using an excuse to come over, that snake charmer!" The visit lasted 2 minutes. He walked in saw the place and left. No lingering, no flirting, just business. It was the moment I realized he was a different kind of man. One that respected my space and understood his. One that wasn't there to take advantage of an opportunity where I was alone and make me feel uncomfortable, one who I felt saw me and respected me. I then understood that I was making assumptions about someone but I had never really taken the time to get to know them. After that he asked if I'd go with him to a friends Superbowl party. We missed the 1st half talking and having a unexpected grocery date. (If you know my obsession with grocery shopping you understand why this was the perfect date!) The rest from there is pretty much history. He showed me for the first time what it means to be respected and valued in a relationship, to be challenged, pushed, questioned, to be equal. He still does to this day, that snake charmer. Not everyday is perfect. In fact some of the things we laugh about the most are when they haven't been. But I cant imagine taking on life with anyone else. Thank you for sharing this day with us. You've all played a role in our story together and I'm glad we are able to celebrate this with you.

Here's the truth, I never thought I had a chance with Melina. Even to this day I will sometimes look at her and wonder how in the world I'm marrying such a gorgeous woman. Melina's version laid out most of the details pretty accurately. I did give her rides home after work so she wouldn't have to walk in the dark. It was also a plus that we got to talk and know one another on those rides. I did bring her a book to work after hearing her talk to a co-worker about needing something new to read (I must admit though, that gesture came from a place of trying to impress her). Everything she told you was exactly how we started dating. What Melina's version wasn't able to tell you was how different everything was with her. She wasn't wrong to call me a flirt but when it came to her I didn't play any games. Our relationship began as a group of friends that would climb and hang out after work together. The more Melina and I talked within that group the more I craved to spend time with her. While her beauty enticed me, it was her brain and compassion that made me fall in love with her. The way she viewed the world, the way she truly listened, her humor, and the coolness she projected without trying had me absolutely hooked. I took my shot asking her to that Super Bowl party and the rest is history. I asked her to be exclusive after one week and told her I loved her a month later. It sounds cliche but the truth is I knew I was going to spend my life with this woman from the very beginning. What I'm most grateful for and have always loved is the foundation of friendship that our relationship is built upon. She is, undoubtedly, my best friend in the world.