Andy and Marley met unexpectedly online and fell in love not too long after. Neither of them thought that the person they were meeting at Postino's for a first date would end up being their person for the rest of their lives.
---Fun fact: When Andy asked Marley out, he said “Let’s link up”, classic lingo of a businessman. He also brought his dog, Cleopatra, on the first (and second) date to make Marley feel more comfortable meeting a stranger.
By the third date, Andy had swept Marley off her feet, making her his homemade Bolognese paired with wine, followed by taking her dancing and introducing her to his now best man, Nick. It’s easy to say that Marley immediately developed a massive crush on Andy.
--- For those of you who don’t know, Andy is an amazing cook and loves to cook for others. Around this time, he had just mastered making Bolognese and had even made it for a few friends prior. It’s sort of a joke now that the Bolognese is what swept Marley off her feet but really it was how he danced with her and it reminded her of how her parents would dance together - it was something she had always dreamt of having in a relationship since she was a little girl.
They both had thought that it wasn’t a good time to get into a relationship, Marley even told Andy, despite her feelings, that she just wanted to be friends. But they continued to talk on the phone and hang out here and there and quickly realized that the other was special.
---They talked on the phone for hours and hours at a time… definitely the behavior of two people who aren’t crushing on each other.
One night early on in their budding relationship, they bonded over their similar and very particular taste in music. As “Next to Me” by RÜFÜS DU SOL played, they danced together in the living room of Andy’s condo and something seemed to click. While they still didn’t know it yet, a genuine love and friendship had just blossomed.
---They watched the RÜFÜS DU SOL Joshua Tree concert experience on YouTube while enjoying one of their favorite cocktails: a dirty martini, and flipping through Andy’s old yearbooks.
From there, things took off and the rest is history. They mingled with and became friends with each other’s friends and met each other’s families and loved ones. They completed the 75 hard challenge together, enjoy being active together, have traveled a hefty amount together in the past couple of years, love hosting dinners for friends and family, and have helped each other heal and grow tremendously by loving one another unconditionally.
--- One of Marley and Andy’s favorite things about their relationship is the way that they balance each other out and bring out the best in one another. They love the way they seem to flow when they do things together. Yin and Yang.
Marley and Andy love each other deeply and are so grateful for each other and all of you. It is so special to get to celebrate their love with their loved ones. This is only just the beginning of a lifetime full of love and friendship.
--- Fun Fact: Andy “tricked” Marley into thinking they were doing a photoshoot for a friend at Cathedral Rock in Sedona (when he was really going to propose). When he asked the photographer if he had any props (the ring box), Marley thought it was very odd. Even with the ring in his hand, Marley STILL did not grasp what was going on. She was filled with shock as Andy got down on one knee, still unable to believe that the man she had been dreaming about since she was a little girl was asking her to marry him right then and there.
Marley grew up obsessed with Barbies, princesses, and playing "House" (always as the "mommy").
Her passed dad told her that one day, ALL of the men in the world would line up in their front yard, each with a rose for her, each proclaiming their love (sounds sort of like modern dating apps...). He and her mom used to pray for Marley's future husband with Marley when she was little, and she would giggle because "boys have cooties".
Andy grew up playing games like "war" and making his sisters join in with him. Even as a child, he had an entrepreneurial spirit, walking around his neighborhood raking people's yards, pulling their weeds, and sweeping their driveways for $5 each.
Growing up, Andy's dad, Ben, meant the world to him. He loved getting to spend time with him. He looked up to his dad and still to this day, he is one of Andy's greatest role models.
--- Pictured: Andy with his dad, Ben, and one of his younger sisters, Michaelyn.
In high school, Marley enjoyed a variety of extracurriculars. From cheer and track, to choir, student council, photography and more, she could never choose just one thing to do because all of it was exciting. She was even a jellyfish in the school musical, The Little Mermaid.
Andy went to Brophy College Prep in Phoenix, Arizona for high school and loved playing football while he was there. He is very grateful for his time at Brophy.
When he graduated, he went to U of A for college - another special place where he made many lifelong friends.