One upon a time there was a lovely princess... Wrong story. Ours began in the spring of 2015 at the YMCA. Roberto had been a participant in Melissa’s gym class for some time before they became best friends. Early on we started working out before Sunday class and soon started to spend time together going to the pool, watching sports, and going out to eat. Before we knew it, our friendship blossomed into something much greater.

Everyone, and we mean everyone, thought we would get engaged in Europe. WRONG! Why utilize a perfectly romantic and pre-paid vacation to propose you ask? The answer is simple. Roberto had a better surprise in store. Gather 'round. He planned a special trip. Melissa thought she would be spending the weekend in Charlottesville, VA. For the first time in her life, Melissa arrived on-time and at the right place. She was very proud of this fact. Upon calling Roberto he asked her to go downstairs. She met him there and immediately we took off running, and Roberto only said "We're not going to Charlottesville!" After spending minutes on the train, he convinced her they were headed to Baltimore. Therefore, when the BWI airport stop arrived and we watched all the passengers unload, it was a surprise when he grabbed our things and rushed off. Now we were clearly headed to BWI! Roberto handled everything and let me see nothing. Therefore, the surprise continued while we sat at a random gate until boarding. Melissa had a hunch, she had an idea, but it was so far-fetched she didn't think it was a possibility until she read the destination: Boston! Melissa grew up in a small town 45 minutes north of Boston, called Newburyport. Her family purchased a bed and breakfast called the Clark Currier Inn and she lived there most of her life. Roberto brought her back to that spot to stay in the room that was named after her, in the Nolan Suite, when the Inn was sold. That's not all. We promise, the surprises are almost over - plus there are only 400 words left to use. From there Roberto had one more surprise. After eating brunch at Melissa's favorite spot, we headed for the White Mountains. Melissa always talked about a magical place she dreamed of going - The Mount Washington Hotel, snow covered at the foot of the mountains. It was there, after walking the grounds during the first snow storm, that Roberto proposed on one knee while Melissa made a snow angel. The rest is history.