We first met in 2010 at Orange Avenue School in Cranford. We were a grade apart and got introduced through mutual friends, but it didn’t take long before we clicked. There was something easy and natural between us from the very beginning — the kind of connection that turned into late‑night walks through town with music playing, school football games, Joey making Cristina watch The Exorcist, and Cristina making Joey play Just Dance on the Wii. No matter what we were doing, we always had fun together. After twelve years of being best friends, we decided to take the leap from best friends to something more. Our first date was at Dave & Buster’s in Woodbridge Mall, and our first Valentine’s Day together was at Stella Marina — a tradition we’ve kept most years since. Since then, we’ve traveled everywhere from Mexico to Cape Cod to Niagara Falls, always searching for zoos, mini‑golf courses, and anything that felt like an adventure. We’ve been through a lot over the years, and through every high and low, we’ve always shown up for each other. That’s when we realized we weren’t just best friends — we were meant to build a life together.

Seaside & Ocean Beach One summer we took a trip to Seaside with Mike Loguidice and Mike Boyle, and celebrated Cristina’s birthday with them and Bob over dinner. The following year we stayed in Ocean Beach, and once again our friends came down to celebrate Cristina’s birthday — clearly a tradition we didn’t plan but love anyway. Poconos We’ve taken a bunch of trips to the Poconos over the years, but the one that stands out the most is the Friendsgiving we spent with our closest people — the kind of trip that felt cozy, chaotic, and perfect. Boston & Salem In Boston, we visited the aquarium, took a bus tour around the city, and even tossed tea into the harbor like true tourists. We also took a day trip to Salem, where we found a video game bar and went on an anti‑Valentine’s Day tour that was so random it became unforgettable. Cape Cod Cape Cod has become one of our favorite places. We always play mini golf, grab lunch at The Squire, visit the pirate museum, and stop at Cuffy’s. Breakfast at the Airport Diner in Chatham is a must. One year Mike Loguidice joined us and we went on a haunted tour. On the drives up and back, we’ve made plenty of detours — Mystic Aquarium, Buttonwood Zoo, and Beardsley Park Zoo, just to name a few. Hershey In Hershey, we toured the town and the chocolate facilities, visited the zoo, and spent way too much time playing arcade games — exactly our kind of trip. Peddler’s Village We go to Peddler’s Village every year to relax, wander around, and enjoy the scenery. One year we stayed overnight for our anniversary and stopped in Philadelphia on the way home to visit the zoo. Lancaster Our Lancaster trip was simple and sweet — sightseeing, exploring, and of course, playing mini golf. Atlantic City We’ve taken a few trips to Atlantic City over the years — for Cristina’s birthday, and once to watch Kevin and Emmarie while Petrina and Kevin were at a wedding. We spent those trips gambling a little, swimming, and walking the boardwalk. Niagara Falls Niagara Falls was a spontaneous adventure after a Baja trip. We walked the islands, rode the Maid of the Mist, and even went underneath the falls — one of those experiences that sticks with you. Mexico One of our absolute favorite places is Bahia Principe in Mexico. We spent our days relaxing in the pool, eating amazing food, and watching all kinds of shows. It’s the kind of place that feels like a reset button. We loved it so much that we convinced our Best man and Maid of honor to join us one year where we had a great time. Louisville For this trip, Cristina was there for work and Joey tagged along. While Cristina was at conferences, Joey explored the museums. At night, we met back up and had a blast at karaoke and dueling pianos — the perfect mix of work and fun.