Two Sides to a Story...

MELISSA'S SIDE OF THE STORY

In August of 2007, I finally finished my last summer school class at San Francisco State. I was 21 and had recently moved home to Santa Cruz while finishing up undergrad. The evening of my last class, I really wanted to celebrate. It had been a tough year and I was ready to let loose. It was a Thursday, and Lani’s new boyfriend (Danny) was bringing his friend Brian up to San Francisco to check out a potential apartment in the Presidio. Now don’t get me wrong, I had heard a LOT about this Brian character. Following a little heartbreak about 5 weeks prior, Lani and Danny had slowly started telling me about Brian. From what I heard, Brian was graduating from the Cal Poly Architecture program, he was funny, he was cute, and generally the best guy ever. Danny had gone so far as to play a voicemail Brian left him so I could hear his voice. Needless to say, I was very skeptical. I had never experienced a successful set up, especially with this much build up. I was hopeful but very guarded. After class, I headed over to my sister’s apartment in North Beach to get ready for the boys to arrive.

A few hours later, the doorbell rang while my sister was in the bathroom. I ran down the stairs and and opened the door. Standing on Lani’s porch was a very good looking guy with a box of fresh strawberries. Before he could say hello, be blurted out “would you like some strawberries?” I suggested we wash the berries and invited him in. As we walked up the stairs, I remember being pleasantly surprised, he was adorable!! Right away, Brian was comfortable hanging with Lani, Danny and I. I remember he sat in the room and chatted with us while we got ready. I loved his confidence and genuine sweetness. We went out to dinner that night at a cute Italian restaurant in North Beach followed by drinks at a bar down the street. It was an amazing night. I was smitten. 

The following morning, I caught a ride back to Santa Cruz with Danny and Brian. When they dropped me off, Brian walked me to the door and as he was walking away, he turned around and said, “you want to get some breakfast?” I was surprised by his boldness but of course agreed. Brian dropped Danny off and we had a lovely breakfast getting to know one another. Brian headed back to San Luis Obispo and I didn’t see him for about a week. From then on things were easy. He came back up to Santa Cruz to visit and I went down to SLO for a weekend. There was no question that we wanted to be together. Brian moved to SF and we spent every weekend together. We very quickly fell in love. I never could have imagined finding such an amazing boyfriend. Brian was (and is) a gem.

During the six years we have been together, Brian and I have traveled together, lived in Berkeley, San Francisco and now Santa Cruz. We are so excited to celebrate our love and marriage with our closest friends and family! 

BRIAN'S SIDE OF THE STORY

The San Francisco, North Beach true Love story…

I really don’t know how all of this happened…seven years ago I was swept off my feet by a beautiful and delightfully charming young lady and I knew I could never let her go. Actually, this love started as a San Francisco love story. To be exact it began like a quintessential blind date set up by his best friend and her sister… que the music.

A later summer  night in North Beach (San Francisco’s Italian District). The ladies are at Lani’s (Melissa’s sister) apartment and Danny (Lani’s boyfriend & Brian’s best friend) are headed up to the City for the night.

The Introduction - Brian makes the brilliant  last minute decision to pull over on the way to the North Beach apartment and buy an entire flat of strawberries as the initial icebreaker. Outside, at the base of the apartment stairs, Brian stands alone on the porch. Melissa casually opens the door… their eyes meet over the ruby red berries held out in front of him. This moment, the first impression so anticipated, so rehearsed and calculated. Brian is rendered speechless by the first sight of the her at the doorstep. “Would you like some strawberries?” is all he can find to say.

The offer works impeccably, and although confused and overwhelmed by the giant tray of strawberries, Melissa is pleasantly surprised and enchanted by the gesture and the charismatic date. Trying to keep her enthusiasm contained, Melissa invites the young men upstairs while the ladies get ready for the evening. Brian, a little overwhelmed by  Melissa’s beauty and sweetness, looks back at Danny with a grin, for a quick thumbs up. (later a high-five would be in store).

That afternoon, Melissa had indulged in a post graduation shopping extravaganza (a clear red flag of shopping addiction that Brian is oblivious to until recently) and was excited to try on every outfit for Lani and the patient gentlemen.

The Dinner - Cozy Italian Restaurant, low soft candle light,  murals of vineyards and grapes, a man with an accordion, glasses of red wine, white table cloths and a waiter with an overly Italian accent who Brian is already suspicious of hitting on Melissa who looks fantastic in a her little black dress and flats. Melissa dazzles Brian with humor and sophistication all throughout dinner and he finds himself unable to clear his mind of the future the two of them could have together.  

Continuing the conversation down the road at a bar, Melissa excuses herself for the ladies room. Brian cannot take his eyes off of her as she walks across the bar. She turns back towards the group and smiles. A smile that Brian will never be able to forget…her wispy brown hair flows across her back and shoulders, her poise so relaxed and cool, the stars in her eyes sparkle as she lights up the room with a gorgeous, beaming smile. Brian is memorized still to this day.

Nearly seven years later, here we are. Happy to share our story and our marriage with you, our closest friends and family. Melissa has been my sweetheart since the first day I laid eyes on her and over the years our love has become my life.