Wedding Date on Apr 27, 2019

Justin & Tori’s Story Justin: I met Tori the night of the United States Air Force Academy’s annual Christmas celebration. A girl who was secretly in love with me, Tori’s friend, had recently befriended me and invited me to Hap’s, the student bar on campus. It was there that I was first introduced to Tori. The attraction was immediate, but I played it cool. I entertained the guy that she had wrapped around her finger with dead end conversations and talking about working out. I basically played the wedge. Don’t feel too bad for the guy. Tori was out of his league and he’s happily married to some nice girl. After a couple of beers and a few conversations about our aspirations I could tell that she was a strong-willed woman with a lot going on for herself. I really had a lot of respect for her. We started talking about football (I didn’t follow football) and I found out that she was a Pats fan. Her friend, Mike, bet that the Jets would beat the Pats that year and even a guy like me knew how unlikely that was. I bet him $20 that the Pats would win. Before I left for the night to go write a paper due the next day, I slid my phone over to Tori and asked her to give me her insta handle. Shortly after I went to Georgia and she went to Indiana for Christmas break. I was sitting on my back porch sipping coffee with my mom just before Christmas when she slid into my DM’s. I honestly couldn’t tell that she was into me, because her opening comments was that I owed Mike $20 after the Pats lost to the Jets. Nonetheless, it was a foot in the door. We kept talking and tried to figure more out about each other. She told me that she loved snowboarding, and I told her that I was a bull rider on the rodeo team with a concussion somewhere in my stars. Shortly after we exchanged phone numbers and we were in contact pretty regularly. Tori: Although Justin’s story is mostly accurate, I will add some additional details. My friend (at the time L) had been talking about this guy named Justin for months. She was very vocal about the fact they were perfect for each other to not only her friends but also more random acquaintances. Since Justin was a year behind me at school, I did not know him. She tried to show him to me at a football game but I couldn’t tell him apart from the crowd of tall white guys in uniform. She showed me his instagram and I said he was cute and asked if his roommate was single (haha). I spent from August to December being her wingman from afar. I helped analyze the texts they sent, pick out an outfit for their brunch, and broke down the date with her afterwards. Unfortunately (kind of), I came to the conclusion that this guy was just not that into her. I broke the news lightly, but she seemed to be coming to the same conclusion. As one of her last efforts, she invited him to join us for drinks after the annual Christmas dinner. I was in a cute red dress, which is a welcome change from being in a uniform most of the time. We met him on the way to the bar, but once we got there, my friend disappeared to talk to other people she knew (she was a bit of a social butterfly and probably also a little nervous.) That’s when I saw my opportunity to STRIKE! (Just kidding, I actually feel a little bad about this whole situation but it brought me the love of my life so I can’t feel too bad). I started by making conversation about my friend, talking her up and asking about how they met (although I already knew). Eventually, others joined us. With only 20% of cadets at USAFA being girls, we get an unfair amount of attention. Every time Justin got up to use the bathroom (which happened a lot) a different guy would take his seat next to me. He would come back, but then have conversation with the guys around me or my women friends. I remember thinking frustratedly- “All these guys seem interested in me except the one I am most interested in!” I was struck by how mature, interesting, thoughtful, handsome, and worldly he seemed. He held himself in such a confident way that he immediately stuck out from any other man I had ever met EVER. When we left I told my friend, “Wow, I really think he is so great, (Friend).” I now saw why she was so into him. The fact that he made me think he was a Patriots fan was just icing on the cake. Justin mentioned that he asked for instagram. He didn’t point out that he asked one of my guy friends for his instagram first and then mine and then my best friend (and bridesmaid) Alanna. I felt like one of the crowd. I took my opportunity to slide into Justin’s DMs, although we probably exchanged less than 15 messages over the break. When we go back, my friend told me she was done with Justin and moving on. The first weekend back, I went snowboarding with some friends and got a hell of a concussion. I was put on bedrest for an entire week but that didn’t stop me when Friday came and Justin asked if I wanted to go see Zero Dark Thirty with him and his friend (I was forbidden for watching movies, especially action movies). Before I agreed, I asked my friend if it was okay with her and she said she didn’t care. Justin met me in the parking lot at school and slid over the jeep to open the door, we picked up his friend and went to the movie. We giggled through all the previews and entertained each other with our commentary. I saw him looking over at me when the movie made me cry. Afterwards, Justin’s tune had changed a little. He made sure to walk around to open my door, buy our Denny’s and placed his hand on my knee where it’s been basically from then on. He walked me to my room and kissed me on the cheek. The next day we went out again and stayed up late talking before he kissed me for real finally. The next day we went out again (Jan 17) and he asked me to be his girlfriend (in his own way). We were basically attached at the hip from that moment on. He told me he loved me a couple weeks later and I returned the sentiment not long after. We have so many memories from early on, like our trip to Ouray, CO for Valentine’s Day. One of my favorite memories from the first couple months is when I was about to leave for Norway for work and still had a paper to finish. Justin came over to pack my bags and he when I got to Norway it made me laugh, he had packed like 3 pairs of gloves and a strapless bra although he didn’t pack any strapless shirts. After Justin graduated, we took a trip to Europe. We spent the second week of our trip in Italy and the first few days of that in Levanto which is on the coast just north of the Cinque Terre region. My mother and her friend joined us there, as well as Justin’s friend Dre (the roommate from the beginning!). The trip was wonderful and the city is one of my favorites (I had been there the year before with my mother) although there was some tension between Justin and me because he kept sneaking out or avoiding me on what I though was supposed to be our romantic vacation. I already knew he was going to propose while in Europe (I mean- who wouldn’t?) But I didn’t know when. We started the day at the beach and Justin left to go and get a nap. On the way back my mom and Beth wanted to do some shopping. I am not a fan of shopping and was hoping to join Justin for his nap so I told them that I was headed back to the house. Once I got home, my mom and Beth started texting me about this wonderful Italian designer who was helping them at her store and telling me I needed to come. I ignored their texts and so they started to call. Eventually, my mother pestered me into submission but I told her I was bringing Justin too. Justin agreed but got ready sooo slowly. He was almost completely dressed and I walked out to get our bikes ready and when I walked back he was completely naked again! I am not known for my patience so I eventually told him that I was leaving without him. When riding to the store, I passed my mother who was walking back to come get me. We spent the next hour or so being entertained by the hilarious, crude, complimentary fashion designer. I got a new dress and we went back to change for the nice dinner we had planned. At some point during the getting ready process it hit me that Justin was going to propose. I practically skipped through town on my way to meet them when my Mom told me that we need to hurry and take pictures on the pier. I kept thinking “Wow. I am walking to go get engaged!” The video shows the rest, but Justin sang the most beautiful song before getting down on one knee. We had a wonderful lobster dinner and I left Italy with a fiancé! It was so special to me that my mother got to be a part of it and that it happened in Levanto. A city that will always have my heart. I am also obsessed with my engagement ring.