Of course we were high school sweethearts, and we knew we were both crazy about each other from the start. But to be honest, we went to middle/and our first two years of highschool we didn’t even talk! Our first date wasn’t even meant to be a date! Previously 5 months before we met Carlie texted Mike to which he did not respond, 5 months later Carlie texted Mike again on her birthday and what do you know he responded - shortly after snap chatting for a few days, Mike asked Carlie to go play basketball. Now both of them went into this as not wanting a relationship and just were going to have fun. Well Carlie decided she was going to have Mike meet her puppy (Bella) and her Dad before she left, to which Mike was caught way off guard. Who meets the dad on the first “not even date?!”. After the night they texted back and forth and hung out the next day - we realized this day it was a date so we both told each other we liked each other and we were inseparable since!!! We hung out everyday (thanks Covid) and God put us in each others lives after crossing paths so many times at just the right time, 4 years later we’re getting married and we can’t wait to celebrate with you all!!

Carlie’s point of view: So I know I should’ve thought he was proposing because he took me to Italy, but I honestly didn’t think he was. But of course I brought outfits in case he did. He told me we were going to Italy and that he had already made sure Bella was taken care of and all I needed to do was get outfits everything was planned! The day he proposed to me: we were in Venice and stayed at a BEAUTIFUL hotel. The night before we stayed up late and got pizza at midnight at the pizza place right next to our hotel and I found out later that Mike was so awake because he was so nervous to propose the next day. We started the day off with a tour around Venice until about 2pm and than we were off to our next activity, now I thought if he was going to propose he would’ve by now so I had no idea what was happening next. Than we met Vito and I still had no idea what was going on - he just started taking our pictures and telling us we’re to go now I thought oh how cute mikes getting pictures of us being in Italy - until he started getting all giggly and 5 minutes before he proposed I made a joke asking him if he was going to propose - to which he replied no, than we get to a gorgeous bridge and he asked me if I would marry him! As he was pulling out the ring it got stuck in his pants (I had bought him the wrong size the day before we left for the trip) but we got to giggle about that. And all I remember is being so happy and just in the moment with Mike, I couldn’t wait to be his wife. Mikes point of view: I knew she was going to say yes (hopefully), but I couldn’t stop worrying about all that could go wrong. I set up a 4000 mile trip, where we were supposed to meet a guy I had never met, so he could snap an amazing picture of Carlie while I proposed to her, all while no one I spoke with really knew English. In all seriousness, it felt like a lot to pull off, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way. I wanted Car to have great story to tell, so I went out of my way to work make that happen. I worked with a travel agent, and for a few months, we went back on forth on what places we would visit, tours we would go on, transportation to and from, the places we would eat, etc. When everything was set in stone, TSA allowed the ring to pass through, and we had made it to Venice, I had one day left to pull off. We took a tour through the city that day with lots of stops for local food and drinks. It was all inclusive, so I “encouraged” her to drink as much as possible so she might catch on slower. After all was said and done, we walked to one end of the island, where we met my man, Vito. He was the photographer I booked to capture the moment (what a name, right?). We took pictures for miserable, anxiety filled 15 minutes, all the more opportunity for this to not go the way I planned. We made it to a gorgeous bridge over the canal in the backstreets of Venice. It was at this point Vito proclaimed “Oh these are gorgeous!” (That was the proposal signal.) Because I chose to dress nice for the occasion, my pants were so fitted I couldn’t get the ring out of my pocket. After that embarrassment, I had an out of body experience. Been dreaming of marrying this girl for years. So many nerves, I dropped down on one knee, and the next thing I remember is embracing and finishing up the photos. She’s wearing the ring and you’re all reading this so I’m pretty sure I asked “will you marry me” but I’m not 100%.