Michael and Abbi first crossed paths at Light Church in Encinitas. Abbi would stop to pet Michael’s dog, Chip, and they’d often end up volunteering at the same events. They were never best friends—just consistently friendly, familiar faces who knew each other’s names and shared a few conversations here and there. A couple years later, everything shifted with a simple Instagram DM. Michael reached out to Abbi after realizing he hadn’t seen her in a while, and what started as a casual check-in turned into hours of talking… and then days… and then weeks. Their first in-person hangout ended up being a full day at Disneyland. Friends were supposed to meet them there, but didn’t arrive until late afternoon—leaving Michael and Abbi alone together all day. Somewhere between rides, churros, and way too much walking, there was an undeniable curiosity toward each other. The next six-ish months were spent long-distance, with lots of conversation, growth, healing, and preparation before stepping into a relationship. When the time came, Michael officially asked Abbi to be his girlfriend by writing it on a churro box at Taco Stand. They’ve been dating for a year now, and on December 14th, Michael proposed with a ring he designed himself. You can watch the full engagement story—and the making of the ring—by clicking the video link. They’re beyond excited for this next chapter and can’t wait to have you all along for the ride.