Do you remember these two MIT lovebirds?! They were married at the beautiful harborside just over a year ago, can you believe it?! It was a gorgeous summer day and their wedding was simply perfection. I think what I remember most was Kiki's smile (Mike's too!) They never stopped smiling from the moment they started the day to after each guest had left. Two incredibly joyful people who couldn't wait to start the rest of their lives together.
And what a start they've had! With some traveling under their belt, career changes and lots of time spent with family and friend, M&K have had a very full and wonderful first year of marriage!! But enough from me, I'll let these two do all the talking!! Enjoy!!
D -- Happy anniversary! I simply cannot believe that it has been a year since your wedding!! Has time flown by for you too?
M&K -- Time really has flown by! It feels like just yesterday we were scrambling with last minute wedding details for the big day! My memories from the day are incredible, being surrounded by so many friends and family, it was like a little reunion. Now that a year has passed, I can't help but be excited about the future!D -- What is your favorite memory from your wedding day?
M&K -- Kiki says, Definitely the ceremony. It was so intimate and beautiful, the water as our backdrop, surrounded by everyone who loves us and who we love. A good friend and mentor of ours, an MIT professor and housemaster of the dormitory where Mike and I met, officiated the wedding and it meant so much to have someone who knew us as individuals and as a couple marry us. Also, Mike's family is part Mexican, so as part of the ceremony we used a Mexican wedding tradition known as the Mexican coin ceremony. The groom gives the bride 13 gold coins. To make this tradition more individual to us as a couple, MIke surprised me with 13 different "coins" made from different materials. One coin was made out of wood, and sketched on either side was the Long Beach Fire Department emblem, and the NYC Fire Department emblem, to commemorate each of our grandfathers who were firefighters and have now passed.
Mike says, Without a doubt the first look. I don't like being in front of crowds so i was stressed about the ceremony and the first dance. When we did the first look I realized she was there with me and she was the only one that mattered. The rest just kinda flew by.
D -- What has been the best thing that has happened to you as a couple since your wedding last year?
M&K -- Mike is an event planner at MIT and he recently got promoted! He is an official MIT staff member and will be involved in some very exciting projects coming up! I have also been able to really think about what I want for my future career and i have taken steps to move in that direction such as taking a continuing education class at MassArt this summer! On a broader note, Mike and I have continued to surround ourselves with friends and family this past year. With our Boston friends and family, we have made a note to have a family meal every Sunday and it's been an important tradition to us!D -- What have you learned about each other over this past year?
M&K -- Kiki says, Mike is CRAZY (kidding- I already knew that;)) But every day I find out more and more just how creative he is. Not only is he creative in his cooking and cocktail-making, but he always has these amazing ideas floating around in his head!
Mike says, Kiki is really close to her mom and they chat on the phone a lot, but they both get excited and start yelling. I've always thought they were mad at each other - turns out they are both just excited, HA!D -- Traveled anywhere fun?
M&K -- We decided to wait on doing a honeymoon because we'd like to do a big trip...Greece or Italy! About a month after the wedding we took a road trip to Chicago with friends (our first time there, very fun!) and over the winter we drove up to Montreal. This weekend we are going to Portland, Maine to celebrate our one year anniversary...it will be our first time there! Very excited to walk along the water and eat some delicious food.D -- Any tips you can offer newlyweds for their first year of marriage?
Kiki says -- Compromise is so important to any relationship, and a marriage is really a partnership, something my Dad emphasized in his speech during our wedding dinner. It's easy to get upset about the little things, but at the end of the day you have to remember to laugh with one another and love deeply.
Mike says: Enjoy it(I suspect that applies to the rest of the years also;))!Michael and Kristyn, thank you so much for sharing about the adventures and growth you've experienced together as a couple over this first year of marriage!! I can't wait to see where life takes you both next, love you dearly!! Happy Anniversary!!