Rowan will always remember the moment she first “met” Arianna, weeks before either of them moved onto campus at Notre Dame de Namur University. She found her name on the soccer and basketball rosters and thought, I want to meet that girl, without realizing she was manifesting exactly what would happen next.

Good things came to those who waited, and it took time for us to fall for each other. But once we did, we never looked back. Nine years, two cats, three apartments, new jobs, new cities, and countless trips later, we are still each other’s favorite person. We push each other to grow as individuals and as a couple, and that is what makes us, us.

Our proposal was anything but traditional, just like we are. We designed our rings together, piece by piece, watching each other fall in love with our own designs along the way. Then we took a trip to one of our favorite places, Carmel-by-the-Sea, walked down to the beach, and exchanged heartfelt words and rings with the waves as our witness.

We chose Monterey for the same reasons we first fell for that beach in Carmel: the ocean, the view, the calm, the attention to detail, and of course the food.

That sense of layered history mirrored the way our relationship has grown. What began at Notre Dame de Namur blossomed into something rooted and meaningful, shaped by years of shared experiences and memories that have settled in naturally over time.

In July, surrounded by our family and friends, the history, and quiet beauty of Cooper Molera Adobe, we will add our own chapter to a place that has held so many before us. It feels like the perfect bridge between where we first met and where we are going next, honoring our beginnings in Belmont and celebrating the life we have built since.

Because the coast has always been an important part of our story, choosing Cooper Molera Adobe as our wedding venue feels right. Set in the heart of Monterey, the adobe carries nearly two centuries of history within its walls and gardens. It has served as a home, a gathering space, a center of community, and a keeper of stories. There is a grounded warmth to the property, something that makes the past feel present in a gentle and welcoming way.

We cannot wait to celebrate with all of you.