It all started with an email... In 2015, Joseph and Valeria both shared the same position as "social chairs" in their sorority and fraternity, which basically meant they were in charge of planning events for their organizations. Joe decided to email Valeria to try to plan a joint social together between SigDelt and ZBT. It wasn't until two months later that Valeria finally answered and they started touring potential social venues (little did they know they were starting to plan the rest of their lives together). They went to a bowling alley, a couple arcades, and a laser tag place, but nothing caught their interest. The next day, Joseph asked Valeria if she wanted to go get lunch before touring a local amusement park in Tampa called The Grand Prix, but Valeria said she was going to mass as it was Ash Wednesday. Joe wouldn't take no for an answer so he decided to invite himself to church with her. After a long courtship, Valeria and Joe became inseparable. They attended each other's socials, practically lived together and raised their pup, Manchi (which later became 3 with Bear and Susie)... and the rest is history!

Valeria's point of view: One day, my college roommate, Megan, said we should go on a little girl's trip. At that time I was working over 60 hour weeks and Lord knows the sound of a girl's trip couldn't sound any better. We planned to go to Savannah, Georgia since neither of us had ever been. One of my bestfriends, Maria, and my sister, Nicole, decided to be spontaneous and joined as well. We went on a little boat ride to see dolphins, toured the city with the famous "Spooky Steve" and tried out some cool local food spots. Here I thought that the trip couldn't get any better but man was I wrong. On Saturday afternoon, we planned to go to the beautiful Forsyth Park to take some pictures. Nicole asked this random lady if she can take a picture of us, and out of nowhere I felt something fall down from the sky, I look down and there were rose petals all over the ground... I turn around and I see the love of my life down in one knee. I'd be lying if I said I remember anything he said after that but I heard the last few words "Valeria Aliaga, will you marry me?". Turned out that random lady who Nicole asked to take a picture of us was actually a professional photographer that was hired to take pictures of the best day of my life. Joseph's point of view: Oh boy - where do I begin.... What had initially been a well thought out plan (thanks to the help of some friends and family) turned into what felt like the set of a Romantic Comedy. Between weather delays, car troubles, and traffic, it added tons of undue stress on top of my anxiety to begin with. My plan was to arrive at the hotel around 3-4 to shower, change, and get ready before I'd drop on my knee at 5:30 for sunset. Well I arrived late to my hotel at 5:04, because I had a tire problem, I decided it would be best to leave my bag at the front desk and change in the lobby bathroom. Well - I drop my bag off and realize my dress shirt and jacket are hanging in the backseat of the car which was valeted and gone. I tracked the valet guy and we ran to the car, got the jacket and raced back to the lobby bathroom to change. I had initially planned to drive and park my car at Forsythe but that wasn't option as there's no parking, so I asked the same manager the best way to get there and she said "out the back door and go six blocks, you'll run right into it." So here I am, in Downtown Savannah in a blazer and jeans running down the street with 2 bouquets of roses. When I was right across the street from the park I see the love of my life crossing the crosswalk. I'm literally within 30ft of her, ducking behind a car, there's a nosey husband and wife circling me on their bicycles while interrogating me like I'm some criminal. I said, see that girl in the black, I'm about to propose to her please don't blow my cover... Valeria and her friends crossed and I snuck around the perimeter to meet at the rose garden in the park where I had the photographer waiting undercover. Realizing I'm completely disheveled after my run, I pulled an older man with his golden retriever aside and asked if he could fix my collar and make sure I look presentable because those next few minutes would be some of the most important in my life. He said he was honored to be a part of our special day and he waited to see how it all unfolded. So there I am, ready for my moment and I see Valeria walking up and a child starts pointing at me from behind the wall. Meanwhile I'm putting my pointer finger over my lips trying to get the child to stop and signaling to the mother to control her kid before she ruined my plans. Thankfully the mother pulled the child away and I waited for my cue, with the ring, roses, and sweaty hands, I turned the corner, threw those rose pedals in the air and dropped to a knee. For as long as I live I'll never forget this day for the happiness and laughs it brought were unlike any other.