Despite the mayhem that was 2020, it was in February of that year that Laressa and Julian’s love story began. It truly was fate and their paths crossed the same way all fairy tale stories do….. on Hinge duhhh (they were too classy for Tinder ). Laressa has never had an issue with being direct. So much so that her Hinge profile header read *and I quote* “I am looking for someone to wear onesie pajamas, binge Netflix, and make walnut brownies with.” True romance! For those that truly know the bride, this is a classic, on-brand Laressa statement or (as her and her best friends liked to refer to it) her interview criteria for the very important position of Boyfriend. Julian was prepared to apply for the position and clearly he brought his A Game to their first date/interview! A couple Fortina pizzas, a bottle (or 3?) of wine, and several hours of non-stop convo later they decided they liked each other enough to do a second date. Julian was looking like the perfect candidate to fit the role! They met up for a couple more dates and then suddenly the world shut down in March making dating slightly more challenging. As one of the bridesmaids recalls, “its like one day Julian just came over and never left” but I guess that’s quarantine dating life for ya. Flash forward past a full lockdown, working from home, a major economic decline, Australian brush fires, and swarms of murder hornets… we find ourselves here celebrating the soon to be bride and groom! We are looking forward to celebrating our “promotion” from FIANCÉS to HUSBAND AND WIFE with you in August 2022!!

August 21st 2021. Location, Dubai, UAE. We took a beautiful helicopter tour around the Dubai landmarks and concluded our tour with a photo-op. I bend over to tie my shoe & BOOM, a diamond ring falls out of my pocket. One thing lead to another and that afternoon at half past five I asked my better half to marry me! ( Thank god she said YES!) -Julian