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March 12, 2025
Paris, IDF

Aileen & Matthew

Matthew Bell

and

Aileen Garza

March 12, 2025

Paris, IDF

The Elopement

What better place than the city of love?

We’ve always cherished the simple and intimate moments together, so eloping feels like the perfect fit for us! We want our wedding to reflect our unique connection, without the stress of traditional expectations. We have decided to hold our small ceremony in the Luxembourg Gardens! This is one of Paris’s most beloved parks, which was created for the Queen in the 17th century. The gardens, which cover more than 60 acres of land, include: a geometric forest, large pond, beautiful greenhouses, and many statues spread throughout the park. Jardin du Luxembourg offers a haven of peace and elegance in the heart of the city, which feels just right for us to say "I do" here.

Our Story

Our story begins in 2017, all thanks to the decision to join our high school swim teams. Little did we know, signing up to do endless laps and get chlorine-scented hair would lead to something much more exciting. Although we went to different schools, fate (and swim season) brought us together in the same practice pool. It all started when Aileen, doing her best to look graceful while probably choking on pool water (she’s severely asthmatic), noticed a cute guy across the lanes. That guy, of course, was Matthew. But as fate would have it, it wasn’t Matthew’s swimming skills or killer breaststroke that got Aileen’s attention—it was actually one of his teammates who casually mentioned his name. Without that little assist, our story might have sunk right there. But alas, Aileen found Matthew on social media, and the rest is history… well almost. What followed was a few months of playful banter, small talk, and, of course, some light ghosting—mainly on Matthew’s end (because what’s young love without a little bit of accidental disappearing?). Finally, after much hesitation and perhaps a pep talk or two, Matthew mustered up the courage to ask Aileen out on an official date during the start of their freshman year of college. The date? A classic: the movies. We don’t even remember the movie we watched because of the nerves! But little did we know, that trip to the theater would be the start of something big. Since that night, we have been head over heels for each other and inseparable.

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