Sometimes love starts with a smile — in Sidona and Marquis’s case, it took a while to get to that smile. They met through mutual friends (Marquis is actually the brother of two of Sidona’s close friends). At first, Sidona was a little intimidated — his resting face was intense! But one genuine smile later, and she saw the warmth behind the quiet exterior. Their relationship began as a strong friendship. There was no pressure to impress one another; they were simply themselves. They got to know each other through life’s highs and lows, which built a deep and steady foundation long before romance entered the picture. When it came time to propose, Marquis remembered Sidona’s one request: please, not in public. On a cold, windy day at the arboretum, he had planned to ask indoors — but changed his mind to honor her wishes. At the end of their date, as he walked her to her car, he pulled out a little box and asked her to marry him. Sidona dropped everything in her hands and could only keep repeating, “Are you being for real??” — completely surprised. And the final touch? A surprise celebration at a nearby restaurant with family and friends waiting to celebrate their engagement. There are countless little things they love about each other — like Marquis’s animated laugh that makes his shoulders bounce up and down, and Sidona’s uncanny ability to fall asleep exactly two seconds after 11 PM, no matter what conversation they’re in the middle of. Add in one rambunctious pitbull, and life together will be full of warmth, humor, and love.