Hello to our dearest family and friends,

What a year it’s been. 2020 has been difficult and strange. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Dennis and I had to significantly change the course of our wedding, like so many other couples. We scaled EVERYTHING back, including any plans for a honeymoon.

This year was a very significant one for our family, both good and bad.

Dennis got an amazing job offer out of state, so we packed up our tiny car and moved to Missouri with our four critters.

We began the search to buy a house, a dream that never felt reachable in New Jersey.

My sister gave birth to a beautiful baby boy.

I landed my dream job working in the University of Missouri’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital in their Small Animal Intensive Care Unit.

And sadly, my beloved grandfather passed away at the age of 95.

Instead of asking for gifts for a dream honeymoon, Dennis and I instead are asking for gifts for our first home. We dream of a house with a great yard for Watson, a deck for grilling, a finished basement for board games and movies, and a great kitchen to cook and entertain in. We know that some of these dreams won’t be attainable for our first home, but we can dream!

Our wedding day won’t be what we always dreamed of and we know it won’t be with all the people we always dreamed of being there. It’s been a difficult thing to come to terms with. At the end of the day, we always wanted our wedding to be about sharing our love with all of our friends and family. We’re hoping to have a separate celebration at a later date with all of you there.

We love you all to the ends of the earth,

Melissa & Dennis