We first met in a soccer class at PLNU that was taught by the professor who is officiating our wedding! Regardless of his stellar soccer skills, Noel's man-bun blinded Jamie from seeing the man she would one day marry.

Despite being separated during the COVID pandemic, Noel and Jamie's mutual friends came to the rescue to set them up. It's a longer story, but it involves a meeting at a water fountain, a picture of Jamie in a Scooby-Doo costume, and an embarrassing encounter at the local ice cream shop. Nevertheless, Noel somehow worked up the courage to call Jamie and ask her out to dinner.

Our first date was spent in Little Italy, a historic neighborhood in downtown San Diego. Noel picked Jamie up and they went to an Italian restaurant, walked around the waterfront, and ended the night at a wine bar where they talked for hours. They learned a lot about each other... Jamie learned that Noel was vegan (emphasis on the "was") and Noel learned that Jamie's favorite song is "Hotel Room Service" by Pitbull. It was a lovely evening & they both knew it wouldn't be the last.

After Jamie spent some time with Noel's family in Sacramento during the holidays, they decided to take the coastal route back to Southern California. Although Jamie didn't know it, Noel spent the majority of the drive checking the weather reports and quietly humming the song he had written for her. Despite earlier forecasts of dangerous tides and pouring rain, the weather cleared up. On the beach in Montana de Oro State Park, Noel sang the most beautiful song bringing them both to tears. After he finished, he pulled the ring out of the guitar case, got down on one knee, and proposed. Jamie said YES! The celebration continued as Noel planned a surprise dinner in Montecito with Jamie's family <3