The year was 2020 when Sami and Rashard first met. They quickly bonded over their mutual upbringing in the North East and wasted no time getting to know the deepest aspects of each other, from their lived experiences to their values, fears, and aspirations. Their connection was undeniable. Sami knew he was the one for her and sure let everyone around her know it. Rashard also decided to trust his intuition and leaned into exploring the unknown of a relationship. One of their first dates was to the stunning Vizcaya Museum & Gardens in Miami. Rashard used it as a photo op of Sami (classic) and the pair snapped some of their first pictures together. It was a special memory for the both of them. Fast forward a few years to a beautiful December day in sunny Florida. Rashard proposed the idea to visit Vizcaya again as a day date, to which Sami happily agreed. Simultaneously, Sami’s best friend Hannah called and invited them to an Art Basel event, which would occur at night following their afternoon date at Vizcaya. She was adamant that Sami should pull out a dress and heels, as it would be a chic event with opportunities for the girls to take photos. Heard sis! Rashard and Sami arrived at Vizcaya and began wandering the grounds. Despite Sami asking him to make detours for a chance to take photos, Rashard was on a mission and kept them steadfast on the path to a certain area of the Gardens. The pair reached the top of a gorgeous staircase, lined with weathered gray cobblestone and timeless structures made of Italian stone. Blooming flowers and greenery surrounded them. For a fleeting moment, it felt as though they had transported to Tuscany. They stood at the top of the stairs for several minutes in admiration of their surroundings. Although the scenery captivated both of them, Rashard had something else on his mind. He hugged Sami tightly and began expressing his love and appreciation for her. Flattered by the gesture and his kind words, Sami reciprocated the sentiment and then nudged him to continue exploring. Yet Rashard remained standing in place. Was he buying time? “Uhh.. what’s going on?”, she thought. After a few more seconds, with small beads of sweat forming on his forehead, Rashard finally pulled a small emerald green box from his pocket and dropped to one knee. Omg, this is it! Rashard asked the question that would determine the trajectory of their life together— “Samantha Angelina Moscato, will you marry me?” Sami couldn’t get the words out fast enough. “Yes, yes, yes!!!” As they embraced in pure excitement and joy, Rashard turned to Sami and said, “Say cheese!” There, at the bottom of the staircase, was Hannah and her boyfriend/professional photographer, Ivan, who captured the entire moment. Suddenly, it became clear that they were never going to a fancy Art Basel event. This was the event all along— curated perfectly by Rashard and a handful of loving friends (shout out Brittany, Hannah, and Ivan).