OUR story begins on the corner of 37th and 10th

No One Expects to Fall in Love Throwing Punches

HOW DID YOU MEET?

ANGELINE: A friend of mine (hi, Audi!) convinced me to go to this boxing club down the street from my apartment. I walked in and saw him sitting on top of his desk.

MICHAEL: Angeline sat under the TITLE banner, on the wooden bench on the right, and watched the whole class. I remember it vividly. After, I reached out to her to see if she wanted to do a month-to-month membership. Now, I’m asking her for a lifetime one.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS?

MICHAEL: While she came in as a potential client, and I had to view everyone that came in through that lens, I wouldn’t be truthful if I said I didn’t notice her striking beauty walking in. She had a certain elegance and demeanor to her. That or the fact that she had a full turtleneck on in mid-June in NYC and was sitting in an 85-degree gym with 54 people working out and sweating profusely.

ANGELINE: Incredibly charismatic. Easy to love. The most handsome man I’ve ever met IRL. I had just rewatched Walking on Sunshine, so I thought to myself: “this is my Giulio Berruti.”

First date?

MICHAEL: September 9th, I was on my way home from Monday night classes at Flatiron. She was on our building’s 11th-floor terrace and asked if I wanted ice cream. I asked which kind (I only eat Ample Hills Ooey Gooey Buttercake), and she offered me some fancy ice cream. So naturally, I fired up my own personal snowcone machine and made a coconut shaved ice before heading up to the 11th floor. We hung out on the rooftop and talked about nothing. And I immediately realized I could do nothing with her anywhere and be happy.

ANGELINE: Officially, the fated ice cream on our rooftop on September 9th. First proper date? Il Mulino Prime in SoHo. I had promised Michael it was the best bone-in filet in town, but we (I) ended up sending both steaks back. Then we walked to Morgernstern’s Ice Cream, and he stole my ice cream order. So we were even.

Title Boxing Club Midtown West
At the beginning.
A: I bought handwraps every time I came in - he should have known.
A: My portable heater.
The Grill in the Seagram building - still not as good as Outback.
A: M stealing my scarf because despite growing up in NY, does not own a winter jacket.
A picnic at Bryant Park - Sofia Wine Bar take out.
On the plane - where to next?
For better or for worse - packing up Title West together.

How did you know he/she was the one?

MICHAEL: That’s easy. During our time in Pinehurst. It was crystal clear to me. Beyond the enjoyment of being with her and navigating that difficult time with her, it was her care, her compassion, her loving tendencies that were everything I could wish for. It was clear to me in both a companion sense and a family sense, she was the ideal, what men dream of. It was clear I was with an exceptional person, an exceptional woman who I knew would get even better as time went on.

ANGELINE: His heart, always genuine, always trying to help people out. Michael pushes me to be uncomfortable and to grow. He’s kept my best interests at heart since I’ve known him. His individuality - so unapologetically himself. He’s always learning. Ever logical. He also loves his family more than anyone I know, so I’m excited to be part of family. When the world shut down and we spent every second together for nine months straight, and still wanted more? That’s how we knew. When the world opened up, there was no one I’d rather have by my side doing the new things too.

tell us about the engagement.

ANGELINE: Michael is much better at storytelling than I am. I had no idea though, he concocted a six-month ruse and had our friends in on it. Even after the proposal, I was still convinced his friends were coming! Although I did know all along if it happened, it would be on the 9th green at Pinehurst. Pinehurst is where we retreated to when everything shut down. It’s also where Michael told me he loved me for the first time, and I said “I know.” I just didn’t put two and two together.

MICHAEL: Well, I had known for a while that I wanted to propose on the 9th green at the Cradle in Pinehurst, as it had multiple significant meanings to us. It is the place I first told Angeline I loved her, and just as important, it was the location where I made a significant promise to her, which was held true many years later on that green when I got down on my knee. The only question the whole time was, “How was I possibly going to pull off getting her on that green in Pinehurst and have her be completely surprised in the moment?”