Melissa and John’s story started with a blind date on July 21, 2023, at Fratello’s in Manchester. Melissa had second thoughts but the second she walked in, she thought, Oh… he’s really cute. Safe to say—crisis averted. What started as drinks and easy conversation quickly turned into something more when John casually (but strategically) asked her on a second date just a few days later. From there, things just clicked. They started building a life together—beach days, new restaurants, spontaneous trips, and finding any excuse to turn the ordinary into an adventure. Their first trip together took them to Tulum, Mexico, where things really got interesting. At one point, Melissa convinced John to hop on the back of her moped and cruise through the roads of Mexico—an experience he survived, but probably questioned more than once. Somewhere between the sunshine, slight chaos, and incredible food, John realized life with Melissa would never be boring… and Melissa realized she had found her forever travel partner. She likes to think their relationship mirrors Up—adventure is out there. He grounds her, she pushes him just enough to keep things exciting, and together they’ve found the perfect balance. Since then, they’ve made memories all over—Florida, Chicago, Iowa, Nantucket, Aruba, Canada, and Italy—collecting stories (and probably a few travel mishaps) along the way. Then, on December 9, during a trip to Turks & Caicos, John made it official and asked Melissa to marry him. And the rest? Just the beginning. 💫