Due to spikes in COVID cases, we are unfortunately postponing our additional events until later dates when it is safe to gather in groups. We can't wait to celebrate with all of our friends and family! Our elopement ceremony was beautiful and intimate, and we we look forward to highlighting those in our lives who have blessed us.
Emily grew up in the Bay Area, while Michael was working an upholstery job nearby in Northern California during early February 2019. We matched on a dating app and scheduled a date at the pool hall for the next night. Neither of us were looking for anything serious, so what happened next took us both by surprise. We met, clicked almost immediately, and have been inseparable ever since -- figuratively, of course. We went on dates every day until Mike left to go back home to Florida (so...three dates total), yet we kept in constant contact with texts, phone calls, and video calls.
Mike returned to California in March 2019 to finish project work, along with his friend James. We spent time together every day of their stay, Emily acting as a tour guide for San Francisco, Niles in Fremont, and Yosemite. At the end of March, Mike left to go back home. Throughout the rest of the year, we had a handful of visits back and forth, including Hawai'i and New York. Michael came out to California for Christmas and New Year's - then we took off on our cross-country road trip! (Emily moved to Florida in January 2020.)
Most recently, in June 2020, Mike popped the question at Flagler Beach. Emily said: YES! Mike had been asking to go to the beach for a week when we finally went out. Emily had her suspicions (which she had had before), but nothing was certain. We went to breakfast at one our favorite places - Java Joint - right across the street from the beach. After we finished eating, we starting heading for a little walk on the sand. We started down the stairs, when Mike took off running toward the bottom. Emily took her time coming down the each step and when she finally got close, Mike saw something on the sand dune behind her. "Do you see that?" He asked, excitedly. "The bird?" "What - what bird?" Emily turned to look and came back forward, confused, only to find Mike on one knee. "You know what question I'm about to ask, right?" Emily could only nod, speechless. "Will you marry me?" "Yes! Yes, I will!" Mike then tried to put the ring on the right ring finger (but we got it figured out to get it on the left). We continued our celebration for the rest of the day, concluding with a three rose bouquet, steak dinner, a few pristine white shells, a new house plant, and a beautiful new opal engagement ring. --- To see the upcoming plans, please check out the Events section.