We've Eloped!

Our high school Spanish class linked our hearts. We were working on a group project together with our friends when we became inseparable. On January 16, 2016 we set our official dating status, as teenagers do and we've been together ever since. We stood hand in hand as we accomplished the beginning of our adulthood. We graduated high school, got our driving licenses, applied to college, and moved in together (thanks mom and dad!) We've never left each other's side. We have been together for almost 6 years, and look forward to a lifetime. We now are on a mission to move to Texas together, as we finish school, and start our careers, with our two little dogs Tini and Roo.

At the start of the pandemic we spent our time sending each other funny videos and memes online, and binged some of our favorite tv shows - a la Bones, The Office, and Community. After sleeping in til noon, and sharing all of our favorite videos on TikTok - Anthony couldn't wait any longer. It had been not even a full day of having the ring. Anthony proposed, and Kloey said, "FINALLY!" just kidding, she said yes. Anthony spent the rest of the night building a blanket fort and ordered our favorite take out sushi. We sat down picnic style in our room and excitingly planned as much of our wedding as possible. We may have both been in our pajamas, but it was perfect.

We originally planned to have a huge backyard wedding with all of our family and friends. Because of the pandemic and never knowing when it would be safe for us, we knew we had to make some changes. We slowly changed our plans from everyone to close friends and family, to close family, to immediate family, to a virtual event. The two most important things to us were keeping everyone safe from Covid and being married. It was a big ole ball of stress that was ever evolving and we had to make the tough, yet easy decision to elope, just us. On May 20th, Kloey had flown to California from Texas for the weekend to marry Anthony at the Ventura courthouse. When we arrived at the courthouse they told us that they were closed to the public and couldn't help us. We were frantic trying to find someone that would marry us! After calling tens of places, we found that Santa Barbara took walk ins (first come, first served!) We blindly drove to Santa Barbara hoping with all our might that they could help us. As we walked up to the building, a man let us know that they were offering express 15 minute weddings and that we could be married right then and there. What a relief! Side by side, with masks on our faces, we got married outside of the recorders office with a random lady as our officiant and a random man as well as all of the streets of SB as our witnesses. It was crazy, but it was perfect!

On May 21st, 2021, we got ready at our hotel, Les Cactus. Our photographer, Lauryn, picked up our flowers and helped us prepare for our vow ceremony. We made our way to Moorten's botanical gardens, set up a spot surrounded by huge agave and cactus plants and exchanged our vows as well as our rings. We spent the rest of the day taking photos, getting coffee, and eating cake made by Aunt Nikki. As our photographer left, we changed into cozy clothes and ordered takeout. We sat in our room going over our day, in total awe of our love.

My Dearest Kloey, I promise to always be there for you, to support you and to be by your side with any problems or decisions that happen in your life. Although there may be some decisions I may not like, like when you asked me what I thought about you getting short hair, I will still support your decisions because I love you bunches and I believe you should do what makes you happy. I promise to have the patience and the communication skills to talk about any problems that you and I may have with complete transparency and honesty. This was always something that was the hardest for me to do, and since I've been with you, you have been there to help me get through this problem of mine. So with that said, I will do my best to make this happen. I promise to take care of you when you are ill with a minor cold or when you are suffering from a killer virus. You have always taken really good care of me when I get sick, so I have to return the favor. Besides, we can get sick together. I love the way you express your emotions so freely.I love the way you joke around with your cheesy jokes (no cap) I love the way that you love me. I love you more than Tini loves the ball and more than Roo loves food. I have so much to learn from you. And I will have my whole life to be with you. I Anthony Ayala, take you Kloey Ayala, to be my wife for the rest of my life ‘till death do us part.

You are the light of my life. You’ve wrapped your entire self around me to heal me in my darkest days, and you continue to love me through all of my flaws and insecurities. You are my best friend. I love you. I love how caring and patient you are. I love that no matter how different we are we always find new ways to enjoy each others company. We complete one another. You are the person I will never stop fighting for. I love how you smile lights up a room. I love how your laugh makes the butterflies in my tummy danced. I will always choose you. I love your strength and vulnerability. You are the only person who can ground me when I feel like I have nothing to hold on to. You give my life a whole new meaning. I promise to never give up on you or our little family. I promise to make us a top priority. I promise to continue to learn and grow and to evolve into a better Kloey as time expands. I promise to care about and for you, both mentally and physically. I promise to give you kisses and to make you laugh for a lifetime, and probably when were ghosties too. I feel blessed by the universe to have met my soul partner. We were meant to be. One more promise, I will love you again and again- no matter what. I love you Anthony.