12.11.20

The story of us. It begins back in 2012. We met at St. Angela Merici Church through Youth Ministry. We became friends and continued to pursue our faith journeys through church and friendship. Our hang outs would consist of getting Boba, playing basketball, and driving around while just enjoying one another's company. Matt left for his first semester of college in Santa Barbara during the Fall of 2014 while I began my senior year of high school. Matt had no idea that I had been crushing on him that past summer and I didn't know how he felt so I just gave him a friendly goodbye and a sappy instagram post as he left. Our long distance friendship finally got to Matt as he realized the girl who texted him every other day to check in probably liked him back, so he came home for my birthday in November and took me on our first date (It took me awhile to realize it was actually a date but I finally clued in when he kissed me goodnight). It’s fun to think about now as when Matt and I went on our second date, I finally got to tell my mom, “By the way I’m going out with Matt tonight, and it’s a date”, instead of the usual phrase from the past years of “By the way Mom, I’m hanging out with Matt tonight”. My family had already known Matt from our years of friendship and already loved him, so I got to start dating my best friend and it’s been perfect ever since. Matt moved back to the area as he finished off his college degree at the University of La Verne and 4 years consisted of attending Matt’s fraternity events, eating takeout in Matt’s dorm room when he had RA duty, Matt accompanying me to lots of APU dances, and much support in my APU leadership roles. Now, we are finally at the same school together and I love life with him even more. Matt is pursuing his Doctorate in Physical Therapy as I recently completed my Master’s in Child Life. Now I get to spend my days swooning over the love of my life as we prepare for our wedding day, and the rest of our lives.

During our first summer of grad school, Matt proposed and it was amazing as you may have heard. I was hopeful throughout the day that it would be happening that day, but I was skeptical as Matt’s typical calm and cool character truly threw me off. We started the Sunday off with church at St. Monica’s in Santa Monica and it felt like a true God moment when we were asked to take up the gifts during the church service. We then went for brunch (my favorite meal of the day) at the Penthouse Restaurant, and of course had to make a pitstop afterwards at Sidecar donuts (my favorite dessert). Next we headed off to the stunning and spectacular Getty Villa in Malibu. Our next stop was at the Malibu Wine Safari and while it was over 90° outside, we loved feeding the animals and taking 1-2 sips out of every glass of wine we forced ourselves to try. Dinner was just as amazing as the rest of the day, as we dined at the Sunset Restaurant, located right on the beach in Malibu. Matt then suggested we walk up a tall hill to watch the sunset to finish off the night; and at the top of that cliff, Point Dume, Matt proposed with the most beautiful ring and most beautiful note. We had our amazing wedding photographer Kami Zoller to thank for capturing every moment and we are so excited to see her capture all the future fun moments of our wedding. We have since been so very busy with grad school, internships and clinicals, and of course, planning the wedding of the century. But all the while, loving each other so well and so proud, as we know we have both found the person God chose for us. I want to thank you, family and friends, for being apart of our story. Your love and support is appreciated more than you know and we can’t wait to share in the love and excitement we hold as we await December 11, 2020.

When someone asks me what I thought when I first met Amber it’s always hard to describe, because quite frankly I don't think either of us remember the first time we met! It’s quite funny because looking back we were friends for a few years before dating and I don’t think at any point up until shortly before we began dating I ever thought I would end up with this girl. However, although she may deny it (since she usually does when I bring it up) I always had a hunch she had some feelings for me during, and quite possibly before the summer of 2014. We spent a lot of time together that summer before I left for Santa Barbara, and whether it was playing with the bouncy balls in Toys R Us or getting boba, I believe this was the moment our friendship developed into something beautiful. We became best friends that summer and it was a bit heartbreaking knowing I had to leave my best friend behind at the end of summer to begin my journey in college.

Communication became scarce and keeping in contact was getting a bit difficult during this time (mostly do to me being a poor communicator - If you are truly my friend you know this is true), but November came around and I had plans to come home for Thanksgiving. During this time away, I was really missing Amber, and being away from her I began to realize my true feelings for her. Thanksgiving happened to be shortly after Amber’s birthday, so I asked if I could take her out for her birthday (hoping she would think it was a date). I picked her up and we went to Chick Fil-A, the movies, the aquarium, and ended the day at Pei Wei. I thought maybe she would pick up on the fact that it was a date as I was trying to be flirty with her and I paid for her the entire day (baller move, I know). However, to this day she still is adamant that she was unaware that I intended for it to be a date (granted I never called it a date when making the plans). The day was going so smooth, that was until Amber “got a headache”. Amber’s head began to hurt right as I pulled into the parking lot for dinner. Now, honestly, I don’t buy it one bit. If you’re reading this you have to know something about Amber. She’s a sly, tricky girl, and I still think she was faking this “headache” and I fell into the trap she laid out for me (she’ll deny it though, she’ll never admit it).

Following her headache, she reclined her seat ever so slightly, and I followed and reclined mine. She put her head closer to me since she wasn’t feeling well so she was kind of whispering when she spoke. She began to say she was feeling worse so I decided to hold her hand, and one thing lead to another and eventually we shared our first kiss. Again, I stand my ground when I say this was all part of Amber’s elaborate master plan (which again, she will deny). However, maybe I only tell myself this because, as I am a fan of 80s/90s RomComs, the story that Amber and I share feels like a never ending RomCom movie to me. I am so happy with the way things turned out between us, and that during our first date I couldn’t stop thinking about how head over heels I was, and still am for this girl. I’m not sure if it’s her smile, or laugh, or her perfume, or her jokes, or her kind heart, but there’s something about this girl that drove me crazy, and the moment we shared that day was one I will never forget.  Eventually, on Christmas Day of 2014, Amber and I became official, and our new journey began. Amber ended up at Azusa Pacific University, and I ended up at The University of La Verne. Our relationship only developed more so through the years and our love for one another became stronger. After four and a half years together, I knew it was time (well, I knew it was time long before this, but we were always far too young) to call her my fiancé. I asked her dad for permission, and purchased the ring she said she had always wanted. 

I eventually decided to choose to propose at Point Dume in Malibu. Amber loves the beach, and especially the sunset so the plan was to propose on the bluffs at Sunset. We started the day at Church in Santa Monica, and then we had brunch at the Penthouse restaurant overlooking the ocean. The day was going smoothly! There was a Sidecar donuts right next door and she had always wanted to try them so we made a pit stop. We then drove down to the Getty Villa and walked around the gardens and took some great pictures together. Again, the day was going so smooth! We then departed to go on a Malibu Wine Safari. We fed some animals, tried some wine, and had a blast (except for the fact that it was around 85 degrees and I was sweating bullets in my long sleeve shirt and pants). We then made our way to the Sunset Restaurant in Malibu. We had a seat with the perfect view of the ocean. It was amazing to say the least. I chose this spot also in part that when I looked up Point Dume, it was within walking distance….allegedly. Amber went to wash her hands, and I took this time to confirm with the waiter that Point Dume is within walking distance; however, he breaks it to me that he has never heard of Point Dume. I think you can assume how I reacted to this. Amber was back at the table now, so I decided to excuse myself to go to “the restroom”. I go downstairs to ask the hostess how far it would be to walk to Point Dume. She replies, “WALK?!? That’s a 10 minute drive.” At this point in the night, my photographer (Shout-out to Kami Zoller) was up in the bluffs and I had around 40 people heading to the restaurant in Malibu to celebrate afterwards. I had no Plan B.

So I head upstairs thinking to myself “IDIOT. IDIOT. IDIOT. Matt, you confirmed the location like 20 times, how did you mess this up?!?!”. On my way back to my table, the waiter I spoke with earlier had stopped me to tell me he spoke with the manager and that Point Dume was only a 15 minute walk South. Who was I supposed to believe at this point?!? Again, if you’re still reading this I first commend you, but I’m sure you are thinking “Why didn’t you just Google it or put it in Maps, or at least text your photographer?” Now, I may seem dumb at this point, but believe me I tried. However, AT&T decided to give me No Service at the restaurant (don’t worry I’m with Verizon now). I decided to trust what the manager told me, and following our meal, I walked in the direction he pointed us. Eventually we found ourselves nearing the start of the walk up to Point Dume (before I begin this part of the story let me preface it with the fact that neither of us had been here before). I text Kami (our photographer) and she says she needs more time since we were early for the sunset. I had to stall. I pretended to tie my shoe a few times, I was walking slower than an 80 year-old with arthritis, and I eventually killed enough time. We began the “walk” up to the top of Point Dume that led us getting pretty dirty from the bushes we had to try and avoid along the way. Once we reached the top (or what I thought was the top) I looked around and I didn't see Kami in sight. I started walking around for a few minutes, and I realized I was definitely not in the right spot.

At this moment, I finally saw Kami in the distance, and she pointed me in the right direction. We eventually found ourselves at the top, and I was looking for the perfect place to get down on one knee. Unfortunately, there were tons of people at the top so finding a place for just us two was quite tricky. I noticed a nice spot, but it was too early. I set down a blanket and we watched the sunset for a few minutes, then I told her it’s time to go. I pack everything up and I notice the spot I picked five minutes prior was taken by another couple! I have to stall, AGAIN. So despite saying it was time to go, I turned a full 180 and now say I want to stay to enjoy the sunset. I knew she thought it was fishy. So i just give her a hug and hold her for a minute, while simultaneously trying to sign to Kami in the distance that I am stalling and waiting for the couple to move! The couple moves right at the perfect time and I take Amber’s hand, walk her to the spot, get down on one knee, and make the best decision of my life.  When I tell a lot of people that Amber and I have yet to get into a real argument I get mixed reviews on it. Some say “Wow, that’s great.”, while others say, “That’s unhealthy! You can’t get married and have your first fight when you are married!”. To those who agree with the latter, Boo you haha. But in all seriousness, it’s so hard for me to even think about being upset with Amber longer than a second. Sure, she’s made me upset, or sad, or even angry, but she’s my best friend, and I know we are together through thick and thin. One day I’m sure a real argument may come, but for now I’m going to continue to enjoy this “honeymoon phase” I am in, and have been in for the last five years, because I really do think it will last a lifetime.