We're getting married!

Every epic romance has its origin story, and ours is a hilariously unforgettable mix of imperfect timing, a global pandemic, and one very well-timed shot of Fireball. Buckle up, folks, because this one’s a charmingly chaotic ride. Where It All Began: We first crossed paths during our college days at SUNY Oswego, back when the nights were long and the floors of our favorite downtown bars were... probably sticky. One memorable night at The Raven, Paul, ever the smooth operator, offered Michelle a shot of Fireball. Was it love at first fiery sip? Maybe. Michelle thought it was just a casual chat. Paul, on the other hand, was already casting himself as the lead in their rom-com. After a few weeks of friendly texting, life nudged us in different directions. Turns out, our love story needed a few more scenes (and a global crisis) before it could really get going. Enter: The Global Plot Twist: Fast forward a few years, cue COVID-19, the unexpected matchmaker no one saw coming. While the world was baking sourdough and hoarding toilet paper, we reconnected through Instagram DMs. Michelle was finishing her degree remotely; Paul was living at home, making his final student loan payments. What started as casual check-ins turned into marathon conversations, full of laughter, late-night chats, and the slowly dawning realization: “Wait… this person is kind of amazing.” The universe had finally slowed us down just enough to notice what had been right in front of us all along. From DMs to Chicken Parm: From those virtual beginnings, something real started to take root. Paul didn’t stop at a Fireball shot, he went full rom-com: heartfelt love letters, legendary chicken parm wraps, and surprise flower bouquets. Even before we could go on a proper date, he was already proving he was a keeper. As the world cautiously peeked out from under its blanket of restrictions, our dates graduated from pixelated screens and thoughtful messages to romantic picnics in Central Park, and eventually, to our favorite new hangout: Paul’s charmingly cramped (but oh-so-cozy) 6th-floor walk-up apartment in Harlem. These were the days of takeout feasts, questionable movie marathons with friends, and the blissful realization that even when the world was upside down, we had found our steady. The Life We’re Building: Almost five years later, here we are, standing on the threshold of forever. We’ve recently settled into our cozy one-bedroom apartment (with an elevator this time!), and it already feels like home. Our evenings are filled with quiet joys: cooking homemade meals, battling Pokémon, racing through Mario Kart, and getting way too invested in whatever TV show we’ve binged that week. It’s in these everyday moments that our love shines the brightest. What This Story Means to Us: Our story is about second chances, strange timing, and the quiet beauty of finding your person, especially when life forces you to slow down and really look. We can’t wait to celebrate this next chapter with all of you, surrounded by laughter, love, and maybe (just maybe) another round of Fireball. ♡ Michelle & Paul