We're getting merry!

His Version: It was September 19, 2016, in Rimini — that weird, in-between season where summer is barely holding on and the tourists are trickling away. But then, there she was: a vision in a blue dress, shivering like she was stuck in a freezer. Without a second thought, I threw my jacket over her shoulders like a superhero in a rom-com. She was at the Rose and Crown with her friends, and my heart did that thing where it pretended I was brave. I walked over, ready to make my move... except there was one small problem. She didn’t speak Italian, and my English was, let’s say, "creative." We tried to communicate using a mix of hand gestures, awkward smiles, and the universal language of “Can you repeat that?” We ended the night with a romantic harbor stroll where I pretended to know anything about boats (I didn’t). The sunset was perfect, and every time we said goodbye, I was already mentally planning our next adventure. Little did I know that I’d still be planning them 9 years later. And yes, I’m still working on my English, too! Her Version: Let me take you back to my best vacation ever — 18 years old, sun-kissed and ready to take on the world with my girls. We were dancing, laughing, and living our best lives when he showed up. Picture this: the bar was blasting "Dancing Queen," and I was living my best life, shimmying around like I owned the place. But then? This charming Italian guy sauntered over, looking all cool with his leather jacket like he just stepped out of an Italian music video. He offered me a drink and promised to take me to San Marino (um, okay?). I didn’t know whether to laugh or be impressed by his boldness, but I figured, why not? That one drink turned into 9 years together, 36 countries, 3 migrations, and living in 4 different countries. We’ve traveled, learned new languages, survived bad hotel rooms, and spent hours debating whether our love story was destined or just the result of too many Aperol spritzes. Now, here we are, about to get married, still laughing at how one simple "Italian promise" turned into a lifetime of chaos and adventure. So here we are — nine years later, still planning new adventures, still laughing about that night, and still very much in love.