Tell us your love story — how did you meet, when did you know they were the one? :
We first met in 2008 when Nicole joined Miami City Ballet, where I was already dancing. We became fast friends and stayed close over the years. During the pandemic, when we were both single at the same time and part of the same pod of friends, our relationship began to shift. Nicole invited me on a walk with her dog, Lucy. We were nervous, knowing that taking things further could risk a 12-year friendship. What defined us in that moment were the conversations we had, open and honest talks about our feelings and fears of moving forward. After one “last” conversation, I kissed her. Her response was, “Well, I guess we are doing this.” That foundation of communication would be tested in 2023, when together we helped save her father’s life during a heart attack. If we hadn’t been at her parents’ home for Thanksgiving, he would not still be with us. The hospital staff even called him “the Thanksgiving miracle.” That experience showed me the fragility of life, the strength we had to find as a team to cope and heal, and how deeply I wanted to keep Nicole close and safe. (Her dad is doing great, by the way.) “Hypothetically yes, theoretically forever, we’ll see what happens but I hope we will never be apart.” These lyrics from Hypotheticals by Lake Street Dive remind me of Nicole every time I hear them. They capture both the impermanence of life and the hope that, no matter what, we’ll face it together. That is why I chose this song during Lake Street Dive’s concert to propose. She said yes!!
Do you have any advice or tips for others planning a proposal?:
Trust your instincts. I second-guessed myself constantly leading up to buying the ring and then the proposal itself. Nicole had sent me a ring she wanted, but I felt it wasn’t the one and wanted there to be a little surprise. On the day of purchase, I panicked. I almost ruined everything when I meant to send my mom a picture of the ring Nicole had picked and the PNPS ring I had chosen, but accidentally sent the photo of Nicole’s pick to Nicole instead. Thankfully, I caught my mistake before sending the PNPS ring and managed to talk my way out of it when she asked if I was proposing through text. Then came the actual proposal. Nicole isn’t a fan of big, showy, public moments, so how was I going to do this at a concert? I thought I must be crazy. Would people around us start applauding? Could I go down on one knee? Or would that draw too much attention? Back and forth I went. A quiet hike was starting to sound better and better. The day before, while I was in the grocery store, Hypotheticals, the very song I planned to propose to, started playing. I took it as a sign and moved forward as planned. As I write this, maybe it isn’t just “trust your instincts,” but trust the process. Trust the doubts, trust the messy moments (I was shaking so much from worrying about dropping the ring that it only made me more shaky). If you love this person, trust what comes to your heart and mind. It feels cheesy to write, but use your love as your anchor. And DON’T DROP THE RING!!
Why did you choose a PNPS ring? What stood out to you?:
Nicole had picked out a traditional engagement ring for herself and shared it with me, but it didn’t feel like the one. So I dropped the picture into ChatGPT, asking for similar rings, and was given a handful of options, one of them was a Point No Point Studio ring. I was in awe. It was beautiful, but the diamond was too dark. Even though I could picture Nicole in a more traditional ring, I couldn’t imagine her loving it enough to wear every day. I knew then that PNPS was where her ring would come from. I decided on a salt and pepper diamond with a slightly more traditional color and look, paired with a simple but stunning setting. On the day of purchase, I almost lost my nerve. What if it isn’t what she wants? But I’m so glad I trusted my gut. When she finally saw it on her finger, her exact words were: “I could have never imagined something so beautiful. It is me in a ring.”
What has been the most memorable part of your engagement/wedding?:
The most memorable part of our engagement so far has been sharing our news with family and friends. So many of them have supported us along the way, and in a world where social media often comes first, we wanted to personally reach out to our closest people before posting anything online. They’ve been part of our journey, and it was so special to celebrate with them directly. And honestly, I’m so proud of the ring. Every time Nicole brags about it, I try not to let my ego take over, but it’s winning. Me and your team crushed it! (Special shoutout to Kylie. She is amazing.)
