The first time we met was Halloween 2009 at a party. Will was sporting a (real) afro as part of his costume as Dr. Gonzo from the movie Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. My friend Erin started dating Will’s friend Ryan. She began to talk more and more about Ryan’s single friend, Will. In January 2010 we met up with the boys at a local bar in San Francisco called Kennedy’s. Will was in a suit, coming from a formal event, with super short hair. I didn’t recognize him. Needless to say, this was more my type. Our first date was a double date on Tuesday, Jan. 19th 2010 for Taco Tuesday. From there, our adventure began.

Will’s family has an annual Fourth of July party that he decided to (last minute) invite me to. I arrived the third of July, which is a party in itself. I can truly say that I have never walked into a situation so unprepared for what was to come. The Barton's' welcomed me with open arms and their family friends were one of the kindest groups I have ever encountered. It didn’t take long for me to embrace them as family. I am one lucky girl. My family also adores Will and our relationship flourished. A few years go by and Will moves into my duplex in the Inner Sunset of San Francisco with our roommate Jared. We experienced unimaginable memories in San Francisco that we will always cherish. It then became time to start a new adventure…

I decided to make a career change and follow my dreams to become an elementary school teacher. We moved to San Diego in March 2015 and found an apartment a block from Ocean Beach. Will found an awesome job at the company Prana in Carlsbad. Not long after we moved here, we adopted our fur baby, Kaia. “Kaia” is Hawaiian for the sea, intermixing our love for the ocean and Hawaii. She is our sunshine and never fails to put a smile on our faces. Having the famous OB Dog Beach practically in our backyard has been amazing. She is a true beach pup and we get to enjoy beach days and sunsets often. To say the least, San Diego has treated us well.

In March, Will called up my Dad to ask for his permission to ask for my hand in marriage. Dad’s response was “Let me sit down first and It’s about time”… he was also ecstatic! Will proposed on March 17th, 2016, St. Patty’s Day! The next week we were off to Maui for the most amazing vacation celebrating our engagement. Life threw us a fierce curveball shortly after. We grew together as a couple. As my father once told me, “We cannot control the wind, but we can adjust our sails.” Every day is a new day and it is important to cherish the many ways to be grateful.

We are thrilled to celebrate this special occasion with our friends and family. We thank you for joining us as we embark on our new chapter! We are striving to host a fun filled party and hope that you all can enjoy beautiful San Diego on a holiday weekend!