The pair met as coworkers in 2011, working at Linda's Stuff. Anthony, having went to high school with some of Marissa's soon-to-be best friends from their former job [shoutout to Ashley (bridesmaid) & Alexis!], joined the gang, and their social lives shortly after. Both leaving the job a year later, they lost touch. The two then moved to Manayunk, PA (ironically at the same time) to the same street (Grape St!), but somehow never knew (if you knew either of them during this time and are familiar with Manayunk, then this will easily make sense). Fast forward a few years and Anthony & Marissa were all "grown up" and done with city fun. They both eventually made their separate ways to Ambler, PA (different streets this time), but a short few blocks away from each other. Marissa was working a side job at a restaurant (Gypsy Blu) & Anthony came in for brunch with friends. He asked if she had the same phone number from 2011 (she did not), so they exchanged numbers, this time vowing to keep in touch. They hung out a few times together in Ambler whether it was at Gypsy Blu, talking a walk or grabbing an ice cream. They then went on their official first-date-turned-weekend in one of Anthony's favorite places, Cape May (The Ugly Mug), during 4th of July weekend of 2023, and have been living proof of the "invisible string" theory ever since.

The couple already has quite the history at the zoo; being lifetime members, the Dupell's family-owned business having done countless hardscaping jobs there, and hosting their baby shower in its Canopy Gardens hall when Marissa was pregnant with AJ. It was the perfect place for Anthony to plan a proposal without Type-A Marissa suspecting a thing. The zoo was preparing for a special Holiday Light Show to honor Anthony's late mother, Lisa on Tuesday 12/10/24. The family gathered at the zoo where Marissa quickly learned the night was set to serve a different purpose when she was asked to marry Anthony directly in front of Lisa's favorite animal, the giraffe. Anthony's immediate family and Marissa's best friend and MOH Caroline (who was hiding watching the whole thing) enjoyed a mini reception in the Canopy Gardens hall, followed by a second surprise complete with Marissa's parents and best friends waiting to keep the celebrations going as they arrived back at home.