we're getting married

Everything happens for a reason. Marissa’s mom asked her to be a hostess at Artisans for a reason. I asked a friend to get me a job bussing tables for a reason. We both started serving tables, side by side, for a reason. Each moment we got to spend more time closer to each other, neither of us knew that we were going to fall in love for the first time. We both took leaps of faith and stepped out of our comfort zone when we started our relationship. Marissa had the courage to ask me for my number, implying that she didn't have it. I pushed through my motion sickness going on every ride that spun on the Seaside boardwalk. She bombed down a hill in Island Heights on a long board and scraped up her knees. We were willing to do whatever it took to make it work. Year one we were foolishly in love. Nothing could pop the cloud of love and affection we had for each other. We traveled to Boston, New York and Philadelphia starting off our travel adventures. Year two we both turned 21. From playing drinking games in the garage during Covid during my birthday, to going out drinking in Las Vegas for your birthday, I admired every moment. We had so much more to learn from each other as our love was growing. Year three was another growing year. We challenged ourselves with schooling and growing independently. We both got our Bachelor’s degree and got to celebrate with family for our prestigious accomplishments. Year four was our “fourever and a day” year. Knowing how much Marissa loves traveling, we had our “honeymoon” before our honeymoon in the Bahamas. Traveling with you and making amazing memories is something I will cherish for the rest of my life. Many people expected a ring on Marissa's finger when she got back, especially seeing the professional and beautiful pictures that were taken. This was certainly a trip that we will never forget! Year five I had the plan to surprise my princess with the diamond she deserved. We were both fully graduated and working hard to forge the best future. There were hard times and many learning lessons along the way. No matter if we disagreed or if I was annoying you, like I do so well.. we always know what each other needs to feel better. When someone knows you, the real you, you can truly be yourself. There is nothing more special than when you find your soulmate. For our five year anniversary my gift was five weekends of celebration. We took a trip down memory lane and went to our first ever date spot, Barnacle Bill's, followed by taking you back to the first time I saw you outside of work, staring at you through the window at Atlantic Bar and Grill, on the fifth and final weekend. August 3rd, 2024 is when I proposed the question, asking you to be my wife in front of our closest family members at the first place we ever met outside of work. It started from staring at you through a glass window to now building a home together with glass surrounding us. Every year is a chapter in our love story and we will be writing the pages forever and a day.