"Nice boxers." Those were the first words Margot, my future wife, said to me as I was bending over scrubbing the floor boards of the kitchen I was now in charge of. I appreciate a good sense of humor, and it was right then that I knew we were going to get along great.

We soon became quite good friends, and as I see it, being friends first is a crucial step in a good relationship. We found that we had quite a bit in common and it was not long before Margot and I grew closer, moved in together and even got our first dog, Rocky.

Allthewhile, we both knew Margot would soon have to leave Norfolk to continue the pursuit of her degree, so we initially tried not to get too attached, as we both decided a long distance relationship would not be in either one of our best interests. I think we both knew subconsciously, however, what was to come.

I wasn't really doing anything productive in Norfolk, but more importantly, I wasn't about to let the love of my life slip away that easily, so we packed up and moved to Providence, RI together where Margot could complete her education.

Two months after our move to Providence, we went on our first trip to Romania together (it was Margot's fourth time there). It was on this trip where we truly fell in love. Experiencing the rustic beauty of Hungary and Romania together really drew us closer, which is why we decided to get married there.

We returned to Providence, where Margot resumed school and I began working at the Providence Marriott. Our three years in Rhode Island have been spent working hard, but filled with fun and adventure as well.

Providence is a vibrant city with great festivals, concerts, and excellent restaurants. Waterfire is a particularly unique experience. Every other Saturday night during the summer and fall, over one hundred braziers running down the middle of three rivers in downtown Providence are set afire while classical music plays on numerous speakers mounted underneath all the bridges.

It was on a gondola going down the Providence river during Waterfire that I asked Margot to be my wife. We first had a wonderful dinner at Parkside, which is our favorite restaurant. I then took Margot to the gondola, where we had champagne waiting. Seeing Waterfire from this point of view was incredible. It truly was a magical evening.

The following fall, Margot began her internship for her senior year of school in Casanova, Virginia at Poplar Springs Inn and Resort. During the first week, Margot found a stray dog.

Being the consummate animal lovers that they are, Margot and her Mom, with whom she was staying, took in the stray. They named her Lilly and began their search for a suitable home for her.

In the meantime, Lilly gave birth to five adorable puppies. After some consideration, we decided to keep one. We kept the only male of the litter, Bear, and Margot found good homes for the other pups and Lilly. This new addition has taken some getting used to for Rocky, but the two are now getting along famously!

So that pretty much bring us to now. We have just made it through our third New England winter, and probably our last. Margot graduates from school on May 17th with her Bachelors degree in Baking & Pastry, and we are very busy planning the wedding and stateside reception.

After the wedding, we plan on moving back to Virginia to be closer to our families and friends, and hope to one day open our own cafe.

So to all of you who are coming to Romania, we look forward to seeing you there, and for those that cannot come we will be thinking of you and hope to see you at our reception in Leesburg, Va.