Judie & Z are getting married June 22nd, 2013

IN CAHOOTS WITH CUPID

After several months of getting to know each other around the office, and a partially ignored "charm offensive" on the part of Z., the two of them started to hang out some outside of the office. We'd like pause here for a moment to acknowledge the role that Kate Gaffney, friend of the couple and member of the bridal party, played in making all this happen. If we didn't, she would never let us forget it. Basically, she and Z. were in cahoots.

During a celebration for his 28th birthday, Z. asked Judie on a date. A few days later, they went on their first date on the Ocean Terrace at George's at the Cove. At the time, it was the fanciest restaurant that Judie had ever been to. Within a month, they were officially a couple.

PUPPY LOVE

Judie and Z. decided to make the leap and move in together. They got a lovely loft apartment in downtown San Diego after Z. had been living by the beach for more than six years. They were just two kids in love, and didn't manage to put anything up on the walls until about three months before they moved out. Z. quickly learned that the rice cooker always stayed on top of the counter and that sometimes Judie cleaning things is the same as misplacing things.

The happy couple also added a new member to the team when Z. bought Judie a puppy for her 24th birthday. After a rough first couple of nights, Zoli quickly became a part of the family. Judie and Zoli started to attend puppy classes at the humane society, mostly for Judie's sake. She wont admit it, but she was a little scared of an eight week old Zoli.

2,073 MILES

2010 was a big year. The happy couple made the big decision to move across the country to The Windy City. Why anyone would leave 70 and sunny for cold and windy is debatable, but Judie and Z. both made lists of cities they would like to live in and the lists didn't match. Luckily, Chicago just happened to be the perfect compromise.

In August, they packed up everything they owned, threw Zoli in the front seat and got ready for a 2000 mile drive in a cherry red Ford Mustang listening to Katy Perry's Teenage Dream (while Z. was sleeping, of course!). Some of the highlights of that trip were seeing some amazing natural scenery, Zoli "smelling" a cactus, and sleeping in a Motel 6 in America's largest truck stop, where a murder had more than likely occurred.

WINTER WONDRELAND

Judie and Z. spent the start of the year wondering why they moved away from Southern California as they struggled to survive their first Midwest winter, otherwise known as 2011's Snowpocalypse. Zoli, on the other hand, felt right at home as she (and Judie) discovered snow for the first time. As spring arrived though, they started to explore their new home.

HE PUT A RING ON IT

At some point while all this had been happening over the last couple of years, Z. realized that he wanted it all to keep happening, forever. He found the perfect ring and waited until a day after Valentines Day to ask the question, because he just has to be different. He picked up Judie from school and brought her home to candles and champagne. While she was still trying to figure out what was happening he took the opportunity to ask her to marry him. He will never forget the way she looked confused and said, "I'm so sleepy," with her hands on her head or when he asked if that meant yes, she responded that yes, it did.

I DO, I DO, I DO

Now it's 2013 and we're getting married. We're heading back to San Diego to make it official on June 22nd and celebrating with the people we love. Right afterwards we'll probably go somewhere nice and just celebrate with each other.