9.20.25

We both grew up in Coventry, Connecticut, and attended the same school for over eight years—without ever speaking a single word to each other. After graduation, Chris enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, and Kayla went off to Rhode Island College to get her bachelor's degree. Two years later, in 2018, Chris was stationed in Okinawa, Japan, while Kayla was still in school. That's when we first talked via social media (you know, when we were 7,000 miles apart instead of just 4 miles, as we’d been for most of our lives!). We did long-distance for seven months, officially "meeting" for the first time at the airport when he came home on leave for a few weeks. For the next two years, we continued long distance, with Kayla visiting him at his next duty station in North Carolina every few months. In September 2020, Chris was honorably discharged from the USMC, and we moved in together! Chris (finally) popped the question on August 25, 2024, at the rose garden in Elizabeth Park. We’ve now been together for six years (it’ll be seven years five days before our wedding!) and live happily with our dog, Lexi, and our cat, Phoebe. From 7,000 miles apart to 700 miles, to waking up next to each other every day—we’re finally tying the knot. <3