From the day I met Thomas at The North Face in 2019, I was immediately drawn to his creative and adventurous spirit. Just kidding, I actually thought Tommy was a heartbreaker (Sorry, Tommy). I know now that my first impression could not have been further from the truth! Tommy trained me for the retail position, and through our interactions, I discovered that he was not only funny but also someone who shared my values of hard work and loyalty. Those qualities instantly drew me to him, along with his warm smile and kind heart. One of our first dates, spent at Six Flags Great Adventure, solidified our connection. I suggested a day full of rollercoasters, oblivious to Tommy's fear of heights. Despite his reservations, he braved a rollercoaster ride just to see me smile. As the day ended with a shared funnel cake dessert topped with Oreos and chocolate ice cream, we both agreed that chocolate was undeniably the best flavor. It was in those moments that I knew Tommy was someone I wanted to share my life with. We love traveling, snowboarding, going to concerts, and watching our favorite TV shows together. These shared moments have brought us closer and strengthened our bond like nothing else could. Through the challenges we've faced, Tommy has been my rock. From motivating me through my studies to encouraging us to take the leap and buy our first home, he has been my pillar of strength. In September of 2024, we traveled for our very first time outside of the USA, visiting Gatineau, Canada. On our first day in Canada, we visited Gatineau Park and hiked the Pink Lake Trail. I later learned that Tommy planned to propose to me on the first day, but things went awry. Not to mention Tommy’s indecision to pick the perfect location. Alas, on the second day, we visited the historical landmark, Carbide Wilson Ruins. And then, surrounded by the breathtaking beauty of Gatineau Park, Tommy surprised me with a heartfelt proposal. In the midst of waterfalls and historical ruins, he got down on one knee and asked me to spend forever with him. Without a moment's hesitation, I said yes (I actually said, “are you serious?!?! x10 but what I really meant was YES x10!!! I might have been in total shock.), knowing that our future together would be filled with love, laughter, and countless adventures.

I believe the traits that I possess combined with Sydney’s funny, thoughtful, and honest soul, you get a once-in-a-lifetime kind of love. I feel that, in every aspect of life, she is the one who completes me. The day we met at North Face, I was prepared to train a seasonal new hire for the stockroom, completely unaware that I’d be meeting my future wife. In the retail setting, there aren’t many people who are genuinely kind or super bubbly. That’s just a facade the workers put on to sell strangers jackets. Meeting Sydney was a breath of fresh air. Just working with her that first day, I could tell that she was kind and super bubbly. Not because she had to sell strangers jackets, but because that’s who she is as a person. It was clear from the beginning that she was out of my league. Luckily, our connection only deepened as we spent more time together. Going back to our first date at Six Flags Great Adventure, I was already nervous to be going out with Sydney because of how great she is. This is around the time I learned that Sydney is a huge thrill-seeker, which made me more nervous. I was reluctant to share my fear of heights with her and just went with the flow. First ride was Green Lantern, a standing loop-the-loop roller coaster. Needless to say after that ride, she knew the truth. We laughed off my reservations and spent the remainder of the day doing other fun things around the park. We completed the night with a funnel cake topped with ice cream and cookie pieces, creating memories that would set the tone for our relationship. Together, we've faced challenges like purchasing our first home and navigating the waters of wedding planning. These milestones tested our strength and resilience, but through it all, Sydney's thoughtful nature and honesty have been my anchor, guiding us through the storm. On September 21, 2024, amidst the beauty of Gatineau, Canada, I got down on one knee and asked Sydney to be my partner for life. Her repetitious "are you serious?" made it obvious what her answer would be. Slipping the ring on her shakey finger filled my heart with love and joy. She liked the one I picked! I was able to capture these moments with my camera and they are memories I wouldn’t trade for the world.

As we embark on this new chapter as husband and wife, we are filled with hopes and dreams of traveling the world, creating a loving home, and seizing every moment together. To our wedding guests, thank you for being a part of our journey. Your presence and support mean the world to us, and we are overjoyed to celebrate this special day with each and every one of you. Cheers to our next chapter together!