Amanda and CJ first met in 10th grade one day after school. Amanda was driving with Carly Bollert in Carly's dads convertible when they pulled up to a stop sign. Amanda turned to her left and there was the most handsome buff man she ever did see. Next to that man was CJ. CJ needed a ride so he hopped in the car and from that moment, they didn't know it yet but, their lives would never be the same.
Amanda and CJ remained close friends throughout high school and ended up going to college together at the University of Oregon. One thing led to another and they started dating at the end of their Senior year. After college they moved back to San Diego and decided they weren't quite ready to start their lives in the real world so they took off on a stereotypical post college "Euro Trip" for 6 weeks. This trip tested their relationship in many ways, but they made it out the other end relatively unscathed and the rest is history.
Well not quite, after their trip they took the frightful leap into the real world, both got jobs as many do right out of college, through family connections. After two or three years of climbing the corporate ladder, Amanda started to get the itch to travel again and with CJ's best interest in mind, they quit their jobs and she dragged him half way across the world to Australia, Southeast Asia and New Zealand.
Spending every second of every day for 7 months in a foreign country is, without a doubt, the most efficient way to figure out if you want to spend the rest of your life with someone. Just ask Bill Murray. As he once said, “If you have someone you think is the one... Buy a plane ticket for the two of you to travel all over the world [and] when you come back... if you're still in love with that person, get married.”
And that's just what they did (or are doing). After they returned home, they moved into their first apartment together and a year after they signed their lease, to the day, they got engaged. With the help from their family, CJ proposed at the cross on Mt. Soledad, next to Amanda's Dad's and Grandpa's (Papa's) plaques.
Thankfully she said yes and they've been celebrating ever since. Now comes the time where they make it official and say "I do" in front of their friends and family (that's you!). We can't wait to celebrate once more and look forward to spending this most special day with all of you.
Love,
Amanda and CJ
Bill Murray's advice