Storytime
They Meet
Don and Julia met on their first day at Miami Ad School in 2016, where they bonded quickly over their passion for creativity and love of Subway sandwiches.
She was a maniac driver with a guidette past and a mayo addiction.
He wore women’s overalls (borrowed from her) daily, meditated openly in the school hallways, and had an alter ego who wore a banana costume.
They were both wackjobs in their own distinct ways.
Soon friendship turned into feelings and laughing together turned into love.
Rebranding the Friendship
One late night, after a year and a half of friendship, Don worked up the courage to share his feelings with Julia. Sure, he stumbled a bit. Yes, it was awkward and not smooth. But…it worked—she felt the same way.
In advance of their first date, he scouted out a fancy spot known for Julia’s favorite—mac n’ cheese. “How about Chipotle?” she replied. Chipotle is her second favorite. In fact, she loves Chipotle so much that she couldn’t help but have it for lunch the day of the date. So she watched him house a burrito, then they spent the rest of the night laughing at a dog bar in Williamsburg.
He asked her to be his girlfriend on their first trip together to Maine. For the next two years, she (maniacally) drove 80 miles each week from Long Island to Brooklyn, where they discovered a culinary scene beyond Chipotle and Subway™, and tested the laws of physics on the dance floor.
The Merger
Don attended his first Pusateri family reunion, where he met Julia’s entire family, and was given the nickname “Cornholio” after winning multiple Cornhole games in a row. They also roasted him for his pants—a true right of passage in the family.
Julia met Don’s family at his cousin’s wedding and impressed them with a flip.
Their families and friendships soon started to blend—through vacations together, movie nights, pasta parties, picnics, and live music—until their lives went from two worlds to one.
Life together
They excitedly started planning to move in together, then the pandemic hit (gasp!)
But nothing could put their love on lockdown, not even COVID.
As they were about to sign the lease to their first apartment, the concerned, boundary-lacking broker asked them a burning question, “Are you built to last?”
They were. They moved in together and have spent every year since traveling to new places, checking out new restaurants, biking to Manhattan, enjoying ice cream sundaes, and yapping in the park until sundown.
‘til forever
In July 2025, Don proposed to Julia on Peaks Island, Maine. So it’s only natural that they’ll be taking their next step in the same place.
They can’t wait to celebrate with all of you—the people who’ve been part of their story all along—in the most special place that’s held their memories, milestones, and now, their marriage.
