They met on Nicole's first day interning at L'Oréal during the summer of 2013, in the same department where Paul worked. Paul was instantly smitten, rendered speechless while training her on formula testing. Nicole, completely oblivious, had no idea. A coworker who witnessed the training asked Paul, "So, you like the new intern, don't you?" Throughout the summer, they worked closely, sharing laughs and building a connection. It became pretty clear to everyone that something was brewing between them. Working in close proximity, Nicole felt her heart race, but often dismissed it. Her manager even asked point-blank, "What do you think of Paul? Do you like him?" Nicole's response? "He's funny, really nice, and always helps me when I'm lost. But I'm seeing someone else, so I can't really think about it." On Nicole's last day, as she said her goodbyes, Paul, who had been looking for her, finally caught up. He worked up the nerve and asked her out for coffee or a movie. They exchanged numbers, but Nicole, realizing this would be a date, wanted to be honest. She told him they could only be friends. They rarely spoke while Nicole finished her last year at Stevens. Paul continued working at L'Oréal and congratulated her upon hearing about her full-time offer after graduation. At the end of the summer of 2014, Nicole started working at L'Oréal, but Paul seemed distant. She broke the ice with a joke and their friendship was rekindled. Then, in June 2015, after a week of training, they went to a networking event where the food options were disappointing. Paul seized the opportunity to invite Nicole to dinner, and she accepted. On the drive over, a nervous Nicole tried to convince herself it wasn't a date. The following day, during L'Oréal's annual volunteer day, a colleague invited Nicole to hang out, an unusual occurrence due to their busy schedule. Nicole, knowing Paul was more familiar with the area, grabbed him before he left. The three of them hit up an Yestercades and grabbed dinner. After their friend left, Nicole and Paul spent more time together alone and shared their first kiss. The next week, they were inseparable. When Paul met Nicole's younger brother, she introduced him with a casual "We're seeing each other." Later that night, Nicole asked Paul what that meant to him. He replied, "We're exclusive. Boyfriend and girlfriend." They officially became a couple on June 19, 2015, and the rest is history.

For the Fourth of July weekend, they decided on a trip to Boston—a return to the city of their first trip as a couple in 2015, and where Paul had first said, "I love you." Boston had been high on their list of places to revisit, having thoroughly enjoyed their initial experience. The trip was relaxing, filled with visits to National Historic Sites and collecting cancellation stamps—an addictive hobby Paul introduced to Nicole early in their relationship. On the Fourth, they cheered on the Red Sox as they defeated the Rays at Fenway Park, a stadium Paul had long wanted to visit. Ironically, a proposal took place during the game, much to the visible embarrassment of the woman involved. Paul and Nicole laughed, Nicole completely unaware of what was in store for her. After the game, they grabbed dinner before heading down to the Charles River Esplanade hours early to secure a spot for the fireworks. They settled in, listening to the distant music from the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular stage, people-watching and reminiscing about their trip, as they planned to head home the next day. As the countdown to the fireworks began, everyone stood, filling in the gaps. Paul positioned Nicole in front of him so she could see over the crowd. "3, 2, 1…" Discreetly, Paul pulled a ring from his pocket and reached around Nicole. Just as the fireworks ignited, he asked, "Will you marry me?" Completely surprised, Nicole, of course, said yes! They spent the next 20 minutes embraced, lost in their own world amidst the sea of people, enjoying the fireworks display set to songs like "Higher Love," "Levitating," the perfectly timed "Fireworks" by Katy Perry, and "Defying Gravity" from one of Nicole's favorite musicals. For those precious moments, the crowd seemed to vanish, leaving them in their own private bubble of happiness.

Castello di Ristonchi will exclusively host our wedding celebration weekend. This medieval castle, commissioned by Italy’s famed Medici family in 900 AD, still overlooks the gorgeous Tuscan landscape. Its rich history is evident throughout the property, with signs of monks, wars, and stonemasons. Surrounding the castle and chapel are olive groves, hemp fields, and fruit trees, all nestled within an ancient chestnut forest. We deeply understand that a destination wedding (especially an international one) is an enormous ask of our guests. We hope that if you choose to join us, you will view this as an opportunity to travel to Italy and enjoy a vacation (with a really fun wedding as the icing on the cake). We've tried to make things as easy as possible by working with Ristonchi to provide your housing for the duration of the wedding festivities. If you choose to join us, accommodations for the three-days will be included—lodging and meals. In addition to the traditional wedding reception hosted by the bride and groom, Paul and Nicole will host events throughout the week, including a welcome reception dinner, a pasta-making class, and more. To simplify travel, transportation will be provided from Florence to the castle on the afternoon of Tuesday, May 26th. Check-in begins at 4:00 PM on Tuesday, May 26th, and check-out is at 11:00 AM on Friday, May 29th. Castello di Ristonchi consists of 30 apartments, ranging from studios to two-bedrooms. Each apartment has its own private bathroom and kitchenette. We look forward to coordinating for you and ensuring you are comfortably accommodated during your stay. We appreciate your understanding that you may be sharing your apartment with other family members and friends. See the FAQs for more information on housing.