13 years married and I still made you a whole website because a card from the store felt too easy.
(You'd think after 13 years I'd have run out of ways to be extra. You'd be wrong.)
Caroline
(A non-exhaustive list. 13 years of reasons but the internet doesn't have enough storage for all of them.)
The same smile I saw behind that reception desk in Tenerife. The one that made me completely forget about timeshare. 13 years later and it still does the exact same thing.
Watching you with Ruby and Vinny is one of the best things in my life. You make it look effortless and they are so lucky to have you. So am I.
I was out there doing timeshare and you were behind the reception desk. Of all the people I could've met on that island, it was you. Best work trip I ever went on.
13 years, Caroline. 13 years of my nonsense and you're still here. That alone deserves some kind of award. Or at least a really nice website.
The house, the kids, the chaos of daily life. You handle all of it with a strength I genuinely admire. This family runs because of you, Caroline. I hope you know that.
April 30th, 2012. The best day of my life. You could have said no and honestly that would have been fair. But you didn't. And I've been the luckiest man alive ever since.
From two people who met in Tenerife to a family of four. Ruby, Vinny, and this chaotic, beautiful life we've built together. It's not always perfect, Caroline, but it's ours. And I wouldn't trade a single second of it.
From a hotel reception desk to forever.
Where we met
Where we are now
I was there selling timeshare. You were working the reception desk. I probably found every excuse in the book to swing by that desk. Best thing that ever came out of a work trip, Caroline.
The Day That Changed Everything
30th April 2012
Our Wedding Day
"I went to Tenerife to sell timeshare and came home with something worth far more."
13 years and counting
(So you know exactly who to blame for me having to do all this)
It all started with the Romans running around in goat skins, slapping people for fertility. The festival of Lupercalia was held every February 15th. A wild, chaotic celebration involving animal sacrifice, matchmaking by lottery, and just general Roman nonsense. Romantic? Debatable. Unhinged? Absolutely.
Emperor Claudius II banned marriages because he wanted more soldiers. A priest named Valentine said "nah" and kept marrying couples in secret. He got caught and was executed on February 14th. The Church made him a saint and we somehow turned his beheading into a day about chocolate and teddy bears. History is weird, Caroline.
Chaucer wrote a poem linking Valentine's Day to romance and suddenly everyone was sending love letters. Shakespeare jumped on it too. Handwritten valentines became a whole thing. People had to actually be creative back then, no "Happy V-Day babe" texts at 11:58pm. The bar was higher, Caroline. I'm bringing it back with this website.
Then Hallmark showed up in 1913 and figured out they could make money off of love. So now Valentine's Day is a $25 billion a year industry. Roses cost triple what they normally do, every restaurant is booked solid, and guys are panic-buying giant teddy bears at gas stations at 9pm on February 13th. But you, Caroline, you get a custom-coded website. Because I'm ✨ different ✨.
So basically a Roman wolf festival and a beheaded priest are the reason I made you this website. You're welcome.
Real talk though, Caroline. Before I met you I genuinely thought Valentine's Day was just corporate bullshit. A made up holiday to sell overpriced roses and guilt people into buying stuff. And honestly the Hallmark version of it still kind of is.
But then there's the Saint Valentine version. A man who believed so strongly in love that he risked everything for it. He kept marrying people in secret even when the whole world told him to stop, even when it cost him his life. He didn't care what was thrown at him. Love was worth it.
That's the version I believe in now. Because of you. 13 years of marriage, two incredible kids, and a life I wouldn't trade for anything. No matter what the world throws at us, no matter how hard things get or how crazy life becomes, I will still choose you. Every single time. That's not corporate bullshit, Caroline. That's just us.
Click the envelope to open it
My Dearest Caroline,
Happy Valentine's Day my love. 13 years married and you are still my everything. From the moment I met you in Tenerife I knew my life had changed. You've given me more than I ever deserved, two beautiful children and a life full of love and laughter. Ruby and Vinny are lucky to have you as their mum, and I am the luckiest man alive to call you my wife. Here's to the next 13 years and every year after that. I love you more today than I did yesterday, and I'll love you even more tomorrow. ❤️
Forever yours, always and completely
(Click to redeem. No expiry date. Terms and conditions do not apply.)
I'll handle the kids. You sleep. As long as you want. No questions asked.
✅ RedeemedJust us. Like the old Tenerife days. Except with better conversation and worse hangovers.
✅ RedeemedCooking, cleaning, laundry, all of it. You sit down and do absolutely nothing. Doctor's orders.
✅ RedeemedGo get pampered. You deserve it more than anyone I know. I've got the fort.
✅ RedeemedFull control. All night. Whatever you want. I will not complain. Not even once.
✅ RedeemedBack where it all started. This time no timeshare pitches, just us.
✅ RedeemedTo You
(These ones don't expire either)
I promise to always be your partner in everything. The big stuff, the small stuff, the boring Tuesday evening stuff. All of it. You and me, Caroline.
I promise to be the best dad I can possibly be to Ruby and Vinny. And to always back you up, even when they team up against us. We're outnumbered but we've got this.
I promise to never stop trying to make you laugh. Even when my jokes are terrible. Especially when my jokes are terrible. Your eye-roll is practically encouragement at this point.
I promise to never take you for granted. Not after 13 years, not after 30, not after 50. Every single day with you is a gift and I know that.
I promise to always remind you how incredible you are. Because you don't hear it enough, Caroline. You really don't.
And I promise that if we ever go back to Tenerife, I'll still swing by the reception desk. Just for old time's sake.
(13 years married and I'm still asking. That's dedication, Caroline. Choose wisely.)
13 years down, forever to go. You, Ruby, and Vinny make me the happiest man on the planet and it's not even close.
(Not that you had much of a choice with that "No" button...)