When people ask about our love story, we laugh thinking over all that we have gone through in one short year. Our paths crossed at just the right time, and we knew right away that we had something special - something different than what we had experienced before. We allowed excitement to build before our first date, and as nervous as we both were, it all went smoothly. Andrew planned the date and without knowing, chose Isabela's favorite restaurant in Boston: Barcelona Wine Bar. He offered to pick her up, and she accepted, but gave him the slightly-wrong address (just in case). It was Andrew's first tapas experience, and Isabela took the lead and ordered her favorites from the menu. The conversation was effortless and went on for hours. Funny enough, they both wore their favorite color - blue. To this day, Andrew says it's Isabela's "Barcelona" dress. Isabela was known for bailing on dates last minute and almost did so on this one. Instead, she went on the date, and within two hours of being with Andrew, she texted her friend Luana: I just met my husband - he's the man I've been praying for. Their second date happened just two days after, and their connection came just as naturally as on the day they met. And then there was date 3, date 4, date 5… After a month of casually dating, Isabela got scared. She knew this relationship was getting serious and that she really liked him. So naturally, she tried to break up with him. Twice. Or maybe three times, we don't exactly know. Andrew persisted, and Isabela soon gave in. Once they were both over some (minor) commitment issues, all bets were off. Andrew had a favorite bar, his natural hangout spot where he was friends with all the servers. The whole time they had been talking, Andrew would rave about the place, but he had never taken Isabela there. He knew that having her "meet the friends" would be the sign that he had found the one. He still talks about the first time he brought her to Del's and his unsung favorite bartender pulled him aside and asked if he was "alright" - he knew it was a big deal! Now Del's continues to be their favorite place of food and cocktails. After a few months of dating, Andrew and Isabela went to Mastro's to celebrate Isabela's new apartment. It was a night they would forever remember, as it was the first night that they said “I love you." Not long after, while at a Kentucky Derby party (also the day Andrew was hard-launched on Isabela's instagram), someone made a joke about getting married. This joke became a conversation, and soon it became a plan. And that was it. Andrew started planning the engagement, and he now looks back and laughs thinking of all the challenges he faced. The original plan was for it to happen during their "staycation" over the 4th of July weekend, but the ring he picked out for Isabela, never arrived in time! Somehow, the perfect ring he had chosen was mailed from New York and ended up in Germany. We're happy to share that the ring did make it to Boston, albeit a bit late. Andrew proposed on August 14, 2022, at Pier 4 in Isabela's neighborhood of Seaport. As a newly engaged couple, Andrew and Isabela celebrated with their families, even Isabela's mom that came all the way from Brazil. Ever since, they have been preparing for the wedding, working on joining their different cultures and sharing their love.