Amanda’s side of the story:

This was our first night meeting..

It was December of 2004, and no that isn’t Tony…it’s his soon to be Best Man, Steve. What a long road it’s been for us. Back when we first met we had no idea how our lives would unfold.

Before I even met Tony, something was a little different about him. My sister had seen a psychic about 3 years before this who had predicted that my future husband would be driving a red BMW…well, when he picked me up in his red BMW, I tried to brush it off as a very bizarre and eerily accurate coincidence.

Tony and I had some really great lunches and dinners over the next few years. I visited him when he worked under Head Chef Craig Strong at the Ritz Carlton back in 2005.

We had dinner in old town Pasadena a few times. And when he cheffed at Mike & Anne’s, I got a fabulous 4 course meal served to me.  Then, I visited for the last time in 2009 at his new restaurant, The Bottle Room, in Whittier, CA.  We always had fun talking about our dating lives, movies, music and we laughed a lot! I remember always having a good time, but nothing ever turned into a relationship.

Then, in 2010, I started massaging my future sister-in-law’s mom. On her very last scheduled treatment, she mentioned to me that Tony had been in a very serious car accident and had totaled his red BMW.

I called him that night and asked him how he was. For some reason, I really felt at that moment that God was reaching out to me, telling me this man was important in my life, and not to lose him. I felt different at that moment and that this really was happening for a reason.

We decided to have dinner that weekend, in April of 2010, and something was very different from the moment I saw him that evening. I remember stepping out of my car and walking towards him from across the street...the way he looked, the way I felt...I can honestly say I felt God really wanted us together. From that day on, we started seeing each other a lot more.

On Valentine’s Day of 2011, after an amazing delicious meal and bouquet of flowers, Tony gave me a promise ring at Steve’s restaurant, Pinot Bistro. We decided later that week to get married because we knew this was real...this was forever.

Tony has become the best friend I have ever known. A soul mate that I never knew existed. Little did I know he had been there all along.

I pray that our new life together will be blessed and happy, the way that God has filled us with His love.

Tony’s side of the story:

We met on a cold Monday night in December of ‘04.  I had cooked for everyone.  Everyone being my Mom, Brother, Sister-in-law and my, not knowing it back then, future wife, Amanda.  I remember making a very simple salad and pasta from scratch in a very simple sauce.  I wanted them to know ‘yes, I work in a fine dining restaurant but I can do simple’

I’m sure I made a dessert but can’t remember it now.  The evening was pleasant to say the least.  That night I learned a few things.  I learned that Amanda had

a. a good palette

b. a good sense of humor, and

c.  I was attracted to her

The night ended with drinks at Bodega with my best friend, Steven.  Not knowing it back then, I would become his best man and one day he would become my best man.

In the days prior to this evening, Wendi, my then brother’s girlfriend, now wife, thought it would be a great idea if Amanda & I met.  I agreed and apparently so did she.

It was a great night I thought, but one that did not end with a kiss.  I wasn’t sure what was going on, but I called a few days later.  We met several times over the next 6 years, still not knowing what God had in store.

It wasn’t until March of 2010 that our fates would once again intertwine.

One night after work I wrecked my car, a car that Amanda sat shotgun once or twice on a “date” in the year’s prior, a 1995 Bright Red BMW.  I loved that car.  I’m not sure, but I think everything fell into place.  Wendi’s mom, now my brother’s mother in law, was getting her back worked on by Amanda.  Amanda had now gone to massage therapy school and graduated and was seeing clients regularly.  Wendi’s mom asked if she heard what had happened to me.  Amanda, not knowing, was very surprised to hear what happened.  We both like to think luck or fate or God’s will stepped in that day.   She called.  6 ½ years after meeting, after a lot of growing…. she called.  I was very open and receptive to the call.  Though I did think, at that time, it was nothing.  We made plans for Sunday, and I thought for sure she would blow me off.

A few days later, on a Sunday, we met. By this time I had grown a beard and, assuredly, a few pounds.  We started with a Champagne flight at POP, a champagne bar in Pasadena, then appetizers at a restaurant that is now, sadly, closed.  We were having a really good time.  We called my brother and Wendi to join us for ice cream and they did.  We were still having a good time, so we all decided to catch a movie closer to home, “Date Night” with Steve Carrell and Tina Fey (a movie we caught the end of this morning….funny).

Things were on their way to becoming my best date night ever.  Once the movie ended, the 2 couples parted and I took Amanda to what would be her future home…my place.  We got there and I had to show her something in my backyard, the beautiful full moon, and with it, our first kiss.  We have not been apart since that night.

Our relationship has been perfect.  Perfect in love and in arguments and disagreement, but perfect nonetheless.   We have formed such a warm and friendly vibrant love, one that merits written words.  Everyone and anyone knows that we are in love…but most importantly, we know.

In the months since, we have shared family moments that were instantly on the top lists of birthdays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, first year anniversary and most important, Valentine’s Day.

Valentine’s day already holds great importance to me as it is my mother’s birthday, but now even more so.  On V-Day 2011, we dined at Steven’s restaurant, Pinot Bistro.  Not only did we have an amazing dinner, but also an amazing engagement.  In the months before planning, I knew Amanda was the one.  I just needed to get the right ring, date and moment.  After dinner, I placed the ring on her finger without asking and “claimed” her   I don’t even remember asking.