Our love story began during undergrad at ASU. One night at Moonshine Whiskey Bar, I spotted Marc dancing near our group and felt instantly drawn to him. Thinking he was a stranger, I flirted and proudly introduced him to “my” friends, only to find out they’d all known him since second grade. I was the last to meet him, but from that night on, it felt like we’d known each other forever. That moment was the start of everything.

In nearly 12 years, we have grown through every chapter, beginning with graduating from ASU, building a life in Chicago, earning doctorate degrees, tying the knot, & celebrating it all with a honeymoon we’ll never forget. Our favorite memory is the sweet awkwardness when Marc & I reunited after 2 years apart. We had grown used to living alone, so we had to relearn how to be together. Our first interactions were adorable chaos, fist bumps & high fives colliding.

We would use the $20,000 to tackle credit card, car, and student loan debt, put some into savings, and investments for future security. After taking care of the essentials, we would treat ourselves to a relaxing weekend staycation at Crystal Cove, California, a perfect mix of financial responsibility and a little well-deserved getaway.