How We’ve Met

As the night played itself out with a few glasses of our favorite wine (we had the same taste in wine as well), we discovered that not only did we grow up a block from each other, but that Chris was Joe’s paperboy all those years ago!  We learned that before we met online, our paths in life had crossed inextricably many times over through the years and included some random mutual friends and a few shared memories of the old neighborhood.

First Date

After our first not-first-date, we set a day for our official first date.  We really hit it off that night, but going on a first date can be nerve wracking.  It’s not really a first date if it’s the only one.  We were both pretty sure it would work out and lead to at least a second date but neither of us wanted to put the cart before the horse.  We were just worried about how we looked (God, my hair looks like a toupee today.); what we were going to wear (Crap. I don’t have any khakis to go with this awesome Yeoman Janice Rand t-shirt.); and how we were groomed (Does he like Drakkar Noir or does he hate it?  Is that my breath?).

We finally met up at Cafe Giostra and had a fun and spontaneous evening.  Little did we know that it was a night that would change our lives for the better forever!

Engagement

One night back in 2010, Chris and Joe went out to Harvey’s restaurant/bar in San Francisco’s Castro District.  It was Harvey’s famous Wednesday night trivia quiz show with drag queen guest host, BeBe Sweetbriar.  Chris had been planning this for months and he was as nervous as a whore in church.  During the intermission, Chris popped the question to Joseph and after a long, insightful dramatic pause, Joseph said yes!

Of course, having a drag queen as the host meant that this intimate occasion in the middle of the surrounding chaos became a giant production that included putting them on the spot with a big raucous announcement.  Neither of them can remember how many people bought them drinks that night or why they woke up the next morning in a dumpster behind City Hall.

Wedding

The wedding planning began in June of 2013 in conjunction with the announcement of the possible appeal of California’s notorious Proposition 8.  That morning we got up early and made our way to San Francisco to have breakfast at Orphan Andy’s.  The air was tense as everyone nervously awaited the the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision.  It was overturned! What a great, liberating feeling to be part of a crowd in one of the most historic moments (for us) in U.S. history.  With all of that in the rear view mirror, it was time to concentrate on the love and happiness two people can bring to each other through marriage.

And so the planning began.  We would both love a big grand wedding with all of our friends and family with plenty of presents, lots of scantily dressed go-go boys for groomsmen, and midget clowns popping out of the cake.  But alas, we really wanted something a bit more intimate.  After a couple of awesome and exciting trips down to Cabo San Lucas with our friends, Laura and Sal, we found our place and decided that a destination wedding in Mexico with our closest friends and family was the way to go.  

Our years of planning have finally come together and on November 11, 2015, we will officially tie the knot and be spouses for life!