It began in August 2014, when Mike and Emily were servers deep in the trenches at Hollywood Boulevard Cinema. Mike laid his eyes upon Emily and was immediately smitten, but it wasn’t until Halloween that they really hit it off after their friend, Jon, urged Mike to make his move.

The two had their first date at Maggiano’s Little Italy shortly after, and over plates of fried calamari and baked ziti, Mike won over Emily’s heart.

By December 10, it was official: Mike and Emily were a couple.

MANY bad haircuts later — Mike was her guinea pig — Emily graduated from cosmetology school, and the two rented their first apartment with Emily’s firstborn fur-son, Hemingway. Mike became a kitty stepdad. They then adopted their first cat as a couple one, Kitty

Nine years and two more cats later, Mike decided to ask Emily to marry him, but she kept ruining his plans. On Christmas Eve in 2023, Emily was teasing Mike about not proposing when he yelled: “You wanna know why I haven’t proposed yet?”

He listed each of his original proposal plans over the past months that Emily had managed to foil. Then, right there in the kitchen, he dropped down on one knee and popped the question.

“Oh my god,” Emily said. “I’m gonna shit!”

Mike took that as a “yes.”

Over the months, the two got caught up in the excitement of their engagement, celebrating, planning — all the things young couples do. Emily and her bestie, Christine, even attended a bridal expo.

November 2024 crept up on them, and Mike and Emily were figuring out what to do for their 10th anniversary. Dinner seemed lame, so they instead Ubered to the courthouse and got hitched — well, you all got the Christmas card that year.

Now, they’re celebrating their joy with everyone they love.

Here's to Emily and Mike, many more years together with many more kitties!