While at a friend's house, Kristina was talking about her 80-pound dog, she noticed a guy nearby who seemed to be listening intently. She couldn't help but feel drawn to him, and before she knew it, they were engrossed in conversation about her beloved pet. Chris originally thought this dog would be a monster, but little did he know how much this giant goofball would grow on him. As the night went on, they continued to chat and laugh together, their connection growing stronger by the minute. And though she didn't know it at the time, this chance encounter would eventually lead to a meaningful and lasting relationship.

A few months later, they both were at a graduation party and all of their friends were playing a game. Kristina sat next to Chris and they each had to think of a food show. Chris asked Kristina for help and she told him to say “The Great British Baking Show”. Chris wasn’t too sure but he said it anyway and everyone was very confused and laughed because no one had ever heard of this show. But that was the conversation that had later led to a Facebook message where Chris had asked her on a date.

Chris and Kristina moved in together and the giant goofball was now permanently in Chris’s life and he had to get used to all of the drool that came with it. They both had to get used to each other’s habits. Like Chris leaving all the cabinet doors open and Kristina sleeping diagonally on the bed. But with Chris’s cooking, Kristina’s baking and Gunner’s energy, they made a home full of smoked meats, cupcakes and Pokémon cards.

About 2 years before, while on their usual bike ride through the Bethpage State Park, they came across this beautiful lake where Kristina mentioned this would be a very cute proposal place. Chris didn’t mention anything but kept it in mind. On 8/29/22, Kacey (the maid of honor), asked Kristina to go to lunch one day at Salt in Massapequa. Kacey also asked if Kristina would come with her to a school where she was picking something up from a mom at her son's baseball game. When they got there, there was nobody in sight. Except some geese down by the lake. Kristina didn’t realize this was the lake that was the cute proposal spot. They walked down there and once they turned the corner, Chris and Gunner were waiting there for her. Gunner had a bandana around his neck that said “Will you marry my dad?”