We met singing...

It's really Leah (Smith) Caruso's fault...or maybe it's her sister Jami Smith's fault... Well, it's probably Mary (Lombard) Nunes' fault if you get right down to it. 

Flash back to 2004. After being forced by his parents to visit Elizabethtown College on his twin sister Mary's advice, Pearse fell in love with the campus and people. When he started at Elizabethtown (go Blue Jays!) later that year, he joined the men's a cappella group. He then met the leader of the female a cappella group, Jami Smith, and they became fast friends. 

Fast forward 9 years. Pearse received a text from Jami: "You should try out for my sister's a cappella group. They need dudes. Although I don't know if they need a dude who can sing like a lady." Inspired by Jami's kind words, Pearse decided to audition for Leah's group, Sound Off.

He showed up for his audition, sang his heart out...

...and was promptly rejected by Sound Off.

But wait, there's more! 

A few months went by and Leah reached out to Pearse to convince him to come back and audition again (as it went so terribly well the first time). Lo and behold, things went differently and Pearse was accepted as the newest member of Sound Off. That's where he spied a lovely little lady named Melisse (e not an a).

Sound Off socialized quite a bit, which suited both Pearse and Melisse well. On any given night, you could find any number of Sound Off members grabbing a drink, going to the movies, relaxing, or singing together -- but probably grabbing a drink. 

On one such occasion, Melisse sent a message to the group that drinks were on tap that night at Sound Off's local watering hole, Parish Cafe II (affectionately referred to as Parish). Unfortunately (not really!), Pearse was the only member who could make it that evening.

Melisse and Pearse spent all night laughing, drinking, eating, and having a great time. It was February 4, so Pearse decided to ask Melisse a topical question:

Pearse: "What are your plans for Valentine's Day?"

Melisse: "Oh, same as usual, probably drinking a bottle of wine and eating chocolate by myself."

Pearse: "Well, instead of doing that, why don't you come out with me?"

Melisse: "Really?" 

Pearse: "Yea."

Melisse: "Um, OK." 

Melisse spent the next 10 days wondering if she was going on a date with Pearse or if he was just occupying her time on Valentine's Day. But when he walked up her stairs on Valentine's Day evening with a bouquet of orange flowers and a toy for little Coco in hand she knew he had gone where no other man (in his right mind) had gone before: planned a first date on Valentine's Day.

That age old adage, "friends first," proved to be true. And the rest, as they say, was history. 

Melisse and Pearse have since had countless experiences and adventures together, including trips to more than a dozen countries. On one of their latest trips to Scandinavia, they journeyed beyond the city of Oslo to an old Norwegian restaurant, Frogneresteren, where Pearse had made a reservation for what Melisse thought was just a fun dinner on their first night in Norway. But when the restaurant staff showed them to a small room with candles and roses, it became clear this was going to be more than your average dinner. Pearse proposed, Melisse said YES! and now they can't wait to share the beginning of their next adventure (marriage!) with all of you.