we're getting married!

In October 2016, Alejandra was solo traveling through California when she reached out to a friend, Ramy, asking if he knew anyone in LA who could host her for a night. Ramy worked his magic and found a friend willing to help. Enter: Erik. (Thanks, Ramy—we owe you big time!) Their first meeting was straight out of an indie movie. Erik was working at a pizza place in Downtown Los Angeles when Alejandra showed up and according to Erik, his heart may have skipped a beat. When Erik got off work, they took the Metro Gold Line back to his place, chatting the entire ride and getting to know each other. The next day, Erik went to work and Alejandra explored LA. After Erik’s shift, they met for dinner—pizza from his restaurant at a dog park across the street! Then, like a true gentleman, Erik escorted Alejandra to the Greyhound station for the final stretch of her trip to Oakland. And that could have been the end of it. But lucky for them (and for this wedding), it wasn’t. They kept in touch, and soon after, Erik visited the Bay Area, where they reunited. A few months later, they met again—this time, unknowingly going on their first date at an Ethiopian restaurant in Oakland called Addis. There, they bonded over their shared love of Ethiopian food. (Honestly, that meal was probably when they both knew this was something special.) In February 2017, Alejandra went back to LA to spend some days with Erik before heading home to Mexico. But Erik wasn’t about to let 1,500 miles stand in the way—one month later, he made a bold move and flew to Monterrey to visit her. Their connection only grew stronger and Alejandra made another trip to LA months later. By May 5, 2017, while sitting in Erik’s parked car in a Ralph’s parking lot in Koreatown of all places, he finally asked Alejandra to be his girlfriend. She said yes, and just like that, they embarked on a long-distance relationship full of airport reunions, time zone calculations, FaceTime calls, and far too many tearful goodbyes. But no matter the miles between them, they always found a way to make it work. Then, on the very first day of 2024, Erik pulled off the ultimate surprise. He took Alejandra on a scenic hike in Bidwell Park in Chico, California, and as the sun set, he proposed—through a hole in a tree. (Because why propose the traditional way when you can involve an actual tree?) After eight years of love, adventure, and navigating life between LA and Monterrey, they’re ready for their biggest journey yet—marriage. And they couldn’t be more excited to celebrate this moment with the people who mean the most. So grab a drink, get ready to dance, and join them as they say, “I do!”