Starting in the 6th grade at Tarpon Springs Middle School - we had the biggest crushes on each other. We were friends with each other's friends. We tried to date in 8th grade, but that only lasted 2 weeks. I remember when I got in trouble at the nail salon one day after my mom noticed my iPhone screensaver - a picture of me and Louie with our cheeks smooshed up against each other smiling. I wasn't allowed to have a boyfriend. There was no way we could be together. Now it's the summer after 10th grade at Tarpon Springs High School. We saw each other at a 4th of July party - texted nonstop ever since we left. He officially asked me to be his girlfriend that next month as school started for the year. He took me to the 11th-grade prom and insisted on meeting my mom first (meeting dad was a scary thought). He showed up at my door, flowers in his hands for my mom. She shook his hand at the door and grilled him the entire encounter, "So you're the one she's been talking about." Keep in mind - I wouldn't dare talk about a boy in front of my mom, but I told her about him because Louie was different. College came around, and long distance seemed so hard, so we broke up. He came home that summer before the football season started, and we decided to date again. In our first year of long distance, I don't think we, or anyone, thought we could last another 4 years together, however, I think we both always knew we would end up with each other. Louie always said, "Why grow up separately, when we can just grow together." And we did. It was the best decision we ever made.

Marriage was always something we talked about - even in high school. It seemed natural for us. "We just need to get through college, and we'll be good to go," we always said to each other. Years later, college was over and I was preparing to go to medical school in Tennessee, which meant more long distance for us - but that was easy. We just did 5 years and made it work. What's another 2? A couple of weeks before I left, we talked about getting promised to make things more official. Sometime in between then, Louie came over one day and snuck away from me to find my dad, where he secretly asked for my hand in marriage. The next morning, my dad told me that he gave him his blessing on behalf of himself and my mom and that they would love to plan this celebration with our families as soon as we wanted. We were all so excited. We had the best time celebrating that special day. A few blessings from our church and families later, we spent the rest of the night mixing Greek and Arabic cultures together. It was perfect and smooth, and we all felt like one big fat Greek/Syrian/Lebanese family.

Louie texted me on a random Wednesday morning, "Council Oak and a nice bottle of wine for dinner?" It was the night before he would drive me back up to Tennessee to start 2nd year of medical school. I spent the day running last-minute errands and casually swung by Stacy's house to say goodbye. After a short conversation, she sneakily asked what I was doing tonight, to which she added, "Any idea what you're gonna wear?" I remember briefly thinking, "Why does it matter? Nothing fancy. Louie and I always go to dinner." I didn't think anything of it, because that's just what sisters ask. Moments later, I got a few texts from Louie, "Don't be late." "We don't want our reservation to get canceled." "It was kind of hard to get these reservations last minute, please hurry." Sheesh, someone's being pushy. And he's usually pretty laid back. But I'll tell you something - I am notorious for being late, so it makes sense that he wanted to be on time. Dinner is at 8 PM though, it's only 5:00 PM? Hurrying to get ready still, I peek into Mimi's room to find her and my mom casually sitting on the bed talking. They stop their conversation, "You're wearing sneakers and leather pants to dinner? What about a dress, or maybe even heels?" They both took turns asking. Why the heck did everyone care what I was wearing to dinner tonight? Nothing is clicking to me still. I finally get to Louie's - but I complain about my outfit, my hair, my makeup. He assured me I looked perfect. He then made up an elaborate excuse as to why he absolutely at that moment had to walk down to his boat and needed me to go with him. I thought, is he really asking me to walk outside in this heat right now? Didn't we have to leave? I just rushed to get here! Almost to the dock, I realized something was up. A bottle of champagne and red flowers gleamed in the distance. It finally clicked. I immediately tried turning around because I was not about to get proposed to with Nike Dunks and leather pants on! Kidding. Sort of. After an intimate proposal with just us two, we met up with our closest family who waited for us at dinner in town. It was the best surprise ever. Louie's #1 goal that night was to make sure I had no idea this was coming, and he did the most amazing job. A year later and we are planning our wedding! We are so excited to celebrate this next chapter in our lives with you.

Our wedding day will not be what it is without the love and support of our beautiful families and friends. We promise great music, fantastic food, beautiful views, and the best parea (company) <3