Alessandro and Nicole first met in the opening weeks of Grade 9 at Cardinal Newman Secondary School in 2010. Sharing some mutual friendships in similar friend groups, it seemed like they would have hit it off from there! But they both were a little too shy to start a conversation with the other and make the first move.

Over the years that followed, their paths continued to cross as they shared a few classes and school trips, quietly admiring one another from afar. Little did they know, their story was far from over; simply waiting for the right time to begin.

And that moment came years later, in the summer of 2016, when a simple message would bring them back into each other’s lives and start the journey that led them here today.

After high school, Alessandro began his Electrical Apprenticeship, while Nicole moved to Thunder Bay to attend Lakehead University for Teachers’ College. Just two years into their post-secondary journeys, Nicole decided one day to reach out to Alessandro to see how life had been treating him… or, as many would say, she “slid into his DMs.”

From that moment and first conversation, the two quickly reconnected. Not long after, Alessandro asked Nicole on their first date: a Blue Jays game on August 26, 2016.

What followed was a whirlwind of fun memories, including trips to Ripley’s Aquarium, Stone Cottage, and the movies. Alessandro and Nicole made the most of every moment together in that final week of summer, knowing Nicole would have to go back to Lakehead University; a sixteen-hour drive away from Toronto!

Determined not to let distance stand in the way of their growing relationship, Nicole and Alessandro committed to three years of long distance while Nicole completed her studies, finally graduating in 2019. At that point they were finally able to be together more often and continue building their lives, side by side.

They enjoyed nearly a full year together before the world changed with the arrival of the pandemic. But Alessandro and Nicole were veterans at excelling through the challenges of long distance, which helped them navigate the long months of restrictions with a strong foundation of patience, care, and love.

In Spring of 2021, Alessandro and Nicole took an exciting step forward and decided to purchase their first home together. Since then, their relationship has deepened through countless adventures, overcoming challenges together, and creating enduring memories.

From renovating their home and celebrating milestones, to frequent visits to the cottage, going on their first vacation to Cuba, being devoted co-parents to their beloved part-time dog Ellie, and establishing new traditions of their own, Nicole and Alessandro have built a life rich in love and joy, which has proven to stand the test of time.

Nicole and Alessandro look forward to celebrating ten years together this summer. Through long-distance periods, times of global uncertainty, and faith that the right timing would find them, Nicole and Alessandro are excited to begin the next chapter of their lives on July 31, 2026, as husband and wife.