We first met back in 2022, when I (Javen) started a new job at T-Mobile. Coincidentally, it was the same location where Michael had just been promoted to assistant manager. Funny enough, he was actually on vacation during my first day, so we didn’t officially meet until my second. Right away, there was something different about him—something intriguing I couldn’t quite put my finger on. From there, we built a fun, lighthearted work friendship (which mostly consisted of me roasting Michael for the weird things he ate). He quickly became my best friend over the next six months—though neither of us realized the other was secretly crushing hard. In fact, he had no idea I liked him… and I had no clue he liked me. To be fair, I had only dated women up to that point, so he just assumed I wasn’t interested in men. Then came one fateful night in October when we decided to go to Halloween Horror Nights together. That night changed everything. We drank, laughed, talked for hours, and somewhere between haunted houses and heart-to-hearts, we shared our first kiss. Over the next eight months, our friendship bloomed into a love like no other... and then, we broke up. For six months, we focused on ourselves—exploring new careers, chasing personal growth, and figuring life out separately. And somehow, that journey brought us back to each other—stronger, happier, and more in love than ever before. Luckily, Michael had bought us a house the first time around, so we picked up better than where we left off—filling our home with laughter, love, two wonderful dogs, and cats... lots of cats. Then, on April 12th, 2025, Michael popped the question. And of course, I said YES—duh. Looking back, it’s clear our story was always meant to unfold this way—every twist, every turn, leading us right back to each other. And now, we’re honored to share this next chapter with all of you. Your love, support, and presence on this beautiful day means more to us than words can express. Thank you for being part of our journey—we can’t wait to celebrate with you.

What was your first impression of each other? J: I thought he was cute and kind of dorky. M: I thought she was crazy. I was right. Where was your first date? J: Bento! I had never eaten there before and I loved it. We are a sushi couple for life. M: I had eaten there before, but I suggested we try it together as if I hadn’t. I already knew it was delicious. It still is. Who initiated the first kiss? J: I’d be lying if I said I could remember. M: I’m lying when I say it was me. Who said I love you first? J: I did!! But there were several times that Michael had almost slipped up. M: Yeah, I know. I completely dropped the ball here. What can I say? How did he pop the question? J: I’m not someone who typically likes surprises, so I already had a dress picked out for the occasion. I knew he was going to propose, I just didn’t know where, when, or how. He took us out to dinner and said we’d go walking downtown to grab drinks afterward. Instead of taking me downtown, he stopped at his mom’s house, and we sat on the same bench as the very first time I went over there. He proposed to me and little did I know, his mom was hiding and taking pictures of us! M: Javen wanted to be surprised but she also wanted to wear a specific outfit for pictures. I told her my mom called and said we had to pick something up and we would go somewhere after. While she was thinking about where we would go, I proposed on the bench in my mom’s front garden. What is your favorite thing about each other? J: My favorite thing about Michael is how kind he is to people—not just friends and family, but strangers too. Anytime he sees someone in need of help, he’s quick to take care of it. His heart is the most amazing thing about him. M: She is the most passionate person I’ve met. She acts exactly as she believes. I know when she truly feels something she expresses it and it is important to her. What is your favorite memory together? J: My all-time favorite memory was the first time we ever hung out outside of work. I was going to try a new smoothie place and told him to join me. On the drive there, we couldn’t get my phone to connect to the Bluetooth, so we ended up driving around the parking lot in circles, laughing and making jokes about the situation. That was the first moment I realized I had a crush on him. M: We were driving very late to go get a snack with the music turned up. I can’t explain why I remember it so well but I remember how she looked, how the happiness we had by being together could be felt, and it’s something I will remember forever.