They met at work, but really got to know each other during the pandemic. Their first date was in May 2021. “I was nervous because, even though we had been talking to each other more and hanging out together at work, I’m not a super open person. It can take a while for me to open up and feel comfortable around people,” Melissa said.

Neither one spoke of a moment when they knew the other was “the one”, but Ian recalled, “…It was a much more gradual thing. I would say it was a lot of small interactions, in day to day life. I constantly saw her kindness, her passion, her humor, and her dedication, and the more I saw these things, the more I wanted to be with her.”

This past December, Melissa came home from work on a Tuesday evening to find Ian had made a steak dinner and decorated their apartment with candles and lights and flowers. “After dinner, he said I should put on something warmer so we could take our dog, Nova, out for a walk. When I went into the bedroom, there were flower petals in the shape of a heart and that’s when he proposed.” To which Ian added, “I poured out my heart and soul to her, but I may have forgotten to actually ask her to marry me at the end of my speech, so this whole thing might get cancelled if she realizes.” Haha.

Both of them are middle children in their families and Ian said, “I’m a bit selfish for this” (I disagree, by the way), “but I’m just really excited for a day about Melissa and me. We’re both middle children and so we’re used to just going along with whatever is going on so a day especially for us is going to be really amazing.” I’m so excited to celebrate the start of their marriage later this year!!