a bonafide romance

We met in Brooklyn, NY at a venue called House of Yes... so "yes" was in the air since the very first moment! It was clearly a love story meant to be! After Lino and Melissa shared an impromptu dance together, Lino was already rather smitten, moved by Melissa's words and presence. Lino asked Melissa how he could contact her to possibly see her again... and after telling him how to find her on social media that night, Lino couldn't quite get the spelling right...! In his search to find Melissa again, Lino sent a message to the owners of the House of Yes to tell them the tale of this hopeful love story. They responded to his heartfelt inquiry, and gave Melissa his contact information, so that she could choose to reach out to him if she so desired. She did! ... and two months went by with no further conversation. Lino wanted so much to see Melissa again, but Melissa had not yet chosen to fit him into her full and rich social life. It wasn't until they reencountered each other by chance at the end of December 2016, at a holiday soiree, that they realized the stars were aligning for them, and they were meant to be together...! Our first intentional date was on the weekend of New Years' Eve, and overflowed with such natural compatibility and joyful connection that we did not part ways again until January 1, 2017!! This romance and desire to spend time together was so powerful, that we spent nearly every weekend in 2017 together after that, attending and volunteering at events around New York City, taking weekend getaways, sharing daytime sightseeing and nightlife dance-filled adventures, hosting and attending community potlucks and parties, and celebrating this wild and beautiful life as we know it!!

It was a Conspiracy of Delight! Working in secret, Lino orchestrated a secret proposal and engagement party! Several of his and Melissa's beloved friends in New York City conspired with him to fulfill her dream proposal. In "True Lino Fashion," it was the performance of a lifetime; and of course, Melissa's brilliant Miss-Fisher-like instincts and bionic senses were able to deduce the joyful plot... and even though she saw it coming, she let Lino believe he completely surprised her!! Naturally, she said YES, a thousand times, YES!!! We are thrilled to celebrate this next chapter in our lives with you. See you in Melissa's hometown of Stockton!