How it all began…
“The best decision of my life”
— Michele
“For some reason, I knew this was different”
— Mike
Michael and Michele met on July 31st, 2014.
Each year, Candlewood East Marina hosts a 2 day pro wakeboard rider class and BBQ on the lawn. Leading up to the registration times, Mike didn’t know which day he and his buddies would be coming. He left it in Bob Brown’s (Groomsman) hands to figure it all out (which is very unlike him). It was fate that they ended up in the Thursday afternoon session, because that meant they could just stay there for the BBQ. Bob Soven (Pro rider) was there playing KanJam, but Mike had his eyes on another redhead. She caught his eyes from across the lawn (unbeknownst to him, right in front of his future father in law). He knew he wasn’t leaving without getting the number of that cute girl dancing around the party. With the help of Chris Perry (CEM Salesman) selling her like a 2021 G23, he was sold…sucker written all over him. Telling him that she could do all kinds of tricks on a wakeboard, he stopped him there and said “say no more, she’s mine”. For some reason, he knew this was different. It could have been her playful sarcasm or her infectious smile but either way she was unlike anyone else he’d ever met. For him, it was love at first sight. If you ask Michele what happened that day she may have a slightly different story. The first time she saw Mike and his friends, she thought they looked like a wild bunch. This has since been proved to be correct. Somehow she could see past the Sanuk shoes and she reluctantly gave him her number. This turned out to be the best decision of her life.
Fast forward to a month later, Mike and Michele went on their first date, in Newport, Rhode Island. From that day on, they knew they found something special, and the rest is history.
And the rest is history
Before we met, there were clearly so many times that we could have. We both grew up going to the same boat shows on the same days and spent countless hours on the water. We must have crossed paths at some point and never even knew it.
Looking back, everything really does happen for a reason. And in the words of our favorite singer, Jake Owen, we had some “Good Timing”.
Our Engagement
On September 1st, 5 years to the day of their first date, they took the next step to the rest of their lives together. After months of planning, Mike had pulled off getting everyone in the same place, and not many knowing why. They had dinner plans that Michele didn’t think that could be late for. but Mike had other plans in mind. After some convincing, he lured Michele down to the end of the dock where they first met and he used the excuse that he had just learned a new editing software and wanted to show her something he made. Even after watching the video, Michele (somehow) still had no idea what was going on. She just thought he had done something nice for her, which was not out of character. Mike then got down on one knee and asked Michele to make a lifelong commitment to him and asked her to marry him. STILL Michele had no idea what was happening and couldn’t get any words out besides “Oh My God” over and over. He left her speechless.
Made for You
Our favorite musician, Jake Owen, in June 2020 asked his fans to submit videos doing things they love with people they love. Unknowingly we both submitted video clips of all the time we’ve spent together in hopes of being in the final cut. We are featured in the official music video at 2:08, 3:06 and 3:18.
