This is not a drill people. I repeat: This is not a drill. Yes! We’re here, less than a year away from our big day. And we cannot wait to spend it with everyone we love. Until then, check out the website for some fun, probably important info to help you get ready for our wedding day!
IT’S FINALLY HAPPENING!
n a v i g a t i o n
Michelle’s Story
I spotted Fed under a tree in Manzanita Dorms at UCSB. As everyone at freshman orientation split off into different tour groups, my two friends and I were part of the only six people (out of possible hundreds) who decided to pick the lagoon/beach tour.
*Oh thank god a cute guy* I remember thinking to myself.
"Hi, I'm Michelle" I said wasting no time saying hi to this guy. He said his name is Federico, but we could call him Fed.
In a short amount of time on this tour I could already tell he was one of the funniest guys I've ever met - hilarious, witty, and quick with his jokes.
How sure was I that we were flirting with each other? Pretty sure, but I couldn't be too sure. Post-tour, when it was time to split off into our majors, I had assumed this would be the last time I see this cute guy. Thankfully, my friend Kelley was a solid wingwoman and could read the room. "Can you guys hurry up and swap numbers? We gotta goooooo", and we traded numbers.
We invited Fed to go out with us to some parties that night. Classic Fed - he couldn't go out because he already had to do some homework that was due. Who has homework during orientation? Apparently him. So I really couldn't tell if this guy was into me or not, I was somewhat doubtful of this "homework" excuse (although his story seemed to check out).
After orientation, he did end up texting me. And we kept texting each other throughout the entire summer. Sometimes we'd even Skype (wow, pre-FaceTime era).
When we got our dorm assignments, we both couldn't believe it. Out of all the possible scenarios, with 4000 freshmen in our class, he was going to live literally a few steps away. No words could ever describe how kilig I felt at that moment - even the universe was on my side.
Fed’s Story
It was freshman year orientation at UCSB on July 18 2012, and after a day of administrative activities everyone was released to either go on programed tours or wander campus, with instructions to return later to choose classes.
I found myself torn between responsibly attending a tour of the Sciences buildings, and the ever-beckoning call of the beach-lagoon tour (in case you haven’t noticed, I really REALLY like the beach). Ultimately, desire triumphed and I decided to join the beach tour. Little did I know this might have been one of the most impactful decisions I would ever make. While in line I was randomly approached by a beautiful girl. Meeting cute girls was definitely one of my expectations for college, but I never expected it to happen literally on the first day!
She introduced herself as Michelle and asked if I wanted to join her and her friends. Not one to pass up on an opportunity, I accepted. We hit it off and as the tour neared its end I frantically searched for an opportunity to ask for her number. Her friend Kelley, however, beat me to the punch and told us to exchange numbers as they had to leave to return to their orientation group.
We talked all summer, and even Skyped a few times! (Kids, it’s like FaceTime but only on a computer and with shitty connection). When dorm assignments came out, we discovered that of the 5 freshman dorms we were not only both in the same dorm, Santa Catalina, but of the two towers we were in the same tower, and of the ten floors in each tower . . . we were right down the hall from each other!
Some people - not me of course - claim Michelle hacked into the university computer systems to place us together. Others say it was fate. Regardless, that special moment and all those to follow brought us here to this day.