We apologize to any of the friends & family who asked "how did you meet?" and our response was "She was my waitress" but, you see, it's a VERY long story.  But since we are getting married and all, we think it's time everyone gets on the same page.   So here we go...

Originally from a small town in Vermont, I went to college in Oneonta, NY and graduated with a degree in Studio Art and Art History.  Moving home after school it was difficult finding a career in the art field, so I moved to Albany with my college roommate  to be "in the city." (Kind if hilarious to look back at now since Albany is considered by some to be the suburbs of New York City.)  I waited tables while trying to find a career in the art field. Moving here I knew NOTHING about the area and only knew one person. In the hopes of trying to find any kind of friend, I started talking with Lucas through a dating app. Online dating was totally out of character for both of us.  We chatted briefly and I remember thinking I would never actually go and meet this guy.  A couple weeks later while at work, I went over to one of my tables to introduce myself and get their drink order and Lucas was SITTING IN MY SECTION.   I remember him starting up at me in horror because he thought I would assume he was stalking me.  You guys... my future husbands first words to me were "this looks really bad doesn't it?"  After that I realized he was the guy I had been talking to and I had NO idea what his name was.  I ran to the bathroom to check so I wouldn't look like a complete idiot.   After this fateful meeting I assumed the universe was trying to tell me something.  (Even now I dare you to try to convince me otherwise)   Soooo I ended up giving him my number.   After texting a bit, he showed a lot of determination after I turned down a date to hang out with my cat. (...typical Michaela)  After finally agreeing to go on an official date, it  lasted 7 HOURS because we could.not.stop.talking.  Today we both work in the tile industry.  I design tile bathrooms, kitchens, you name it and he will construct it.  ...Pretty crazy right?

I was finally ready to get back into the dating game. So I’d heard about the dating app “Tinder.” I began swiping left and right, as you do, and matched with a few girls. However, I was still a little timid to be the first to make contact. I received a message from one of my matches and her name was Michaela. We began talking and throughout our first conversation, she told me where she worked which was “Wolf’s 1-11.” I’d been there about 10 years earlier but hadn’t been back since. A few days later I had plans to go out to dinner with my friends Dillon and Sarah. We’d planned on going to the 99 restaurant on wolf road. As I turned onto Wolf Rd. I got a text from Dillon saying there was a change of plans and we were now going to Wolf’s 1-11. I quickly responded saying that I had a funny story to share about that particular place. Unbeknownst to me, Dillon and Sarah had shown up before me, and had been seated....In none other than Michaela’s section. Naturally, I felt like a creep when she showed up to take my drink order and tried my best to explain that I had not planned this. By the end of the meal I worked up the courage to ask for her number and after a couple weeks, she agreed to go on a real first date with me. We were inseparable after that and after a few times asking and being denied, she finally agreed to be my girlfriend. The rest is history.

July 21, 2018

From the first moment she heard the song “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran, I could tell she loved it. She asked me to sing and record it for her and I agreed. However, I had a different plan for the song. I told her that the song was too hard for me to sing and I wasn’t able to record it for her. I took a risk saying this because I had previously recorded four Ed Sheeran songs in the past. Michaela was disappointed but understood. Little did she know I was working on it with my band member Dennis. On July 6th 2017 I had my first opportunity to talk to Bob and Barb alone, while Michaela was at the rehearsal for her longtime friend Emily’s wedding. I didn’t have long because I was expected to be at the rehearsal dinner shortly after but I went to the back porch where Bob and Barb were and asked for their blessing. They said yes, we shared a beer and I was on cloud 9. Fast forward a year and a few days later. My family had planned for a surprise birthday party for my grandmother and Dennis and I had been asked to sing at it. It was the perfect opportunity because my entire family was there, and the next day Michaela and I were headed to Maine for a week long vacation with her family. Dennis and I got to the last song of our set. My mom had Michaela’s family on FaceTime and it was time. I called Michaela to the front of the room and gave a short speech. I looked at Dennis, gave him a nod and started to sing...”I found a love.....”

When the song started I remember thinking "awh this is so sweet" and then thinking "is he going to propose? Nahhh, probably not... He sounds so good. I'm awkwardly standing by myself. What do I do with my hands?" From then I think I blacked out... I just remember as I saw him down on one knee I shook my head to say YES and one single tear fell from my eye. The ring was everything I ever imagined and MORE, and is designed around my grandfathers stone. Absolute PERFECTION. Not to mention the fact that we were surrounded with his whole family and mine was on Facetime seeing the whole thing go down. I was still blown away hours later and couldn't believe we were actually engaged! (Finalllly!) Late that night we ordered pizza and ate it on the bedroom floor and got ready to leave for vacation the next morning. We got to celebrate with my family for a whole week in one of my favorite places in the world (Maine!) I couldn't have asked for a better proposal or to be engaged to a better man!