The two of us met in London while Ana was starting her masters and Ben was working for Mace. Ana heard an out of place American accent from across the bar at a construction networking event. She was there for the contacts and rubbing of shoulders, he was there for the free food and drinks. Upon hearing he worked for Mace, Ana quickly went into prospective employee mode and handed Ben her resume. He gave her a quick "interview" at the bar and left her with a business card to later get in touch with him. Ana waited a respectable two days before contacting Ben about his weekend where these two really got to learn more about each other. The rest is history!

The proposal began with my accomplice, Veronica Mosquera, taking Ana out to a BYOB painting class. I had slipped Veronica clue #1 to the scavenger hunt Ana would soon be engaging upon. Towards the end of the class Veronica slyly slipped Ana the clue and let her know the game was on. The scavenger hunt consisted of six stops, each one highlighting our history as a couple, our history in Chicago and our future together. The final clue found her back at the apartment building. I was given the signal that she had entered the elevator and I asked the mariachi band to begin their playing. Ana walked down the hallway towards our apartment with the sound of live mariachi music growing louder and louder as she approached the door. It was this point that she realized what exactly was happening, and she hesitated at the door. When she finally entered I was down on one knee in front of the coffee table we had built together with three concrete boxes I had made the week before. One contained a potted plant, one contained a family heirloom diamond necklace and the last contained the ring I had made for her, composed to wood, concrete and steel. I explained each of these three items to Ana, explaining how we would be "building" our life together then I asked her to marry me. Thankfully she said yes, and we spent the next short while dancing together while listening to the mariachi's do their thing.

Why not?! Guatemala is filled with beautiful landscapes, AMAZING coffee, colorful textiles, great weather, and a rich history of Mayans and Spanish colonization. Also, Ana comes from Guatemala (lucky!) and all her family and friends live there. Come join us celebrate our wedding in this amazing country full of volcanoes and sun. Need more convincing? Check out this video https://vimeo.com/154417754 (one of many videos out there)

While all Jewish weddings differ in many aspects, there are a few important aspects that remain the same. The ceremony takes place under a chuppa or a canopy, out in the open air. A chuppa is a canopy supported by four poles where the bride, groom and rabbi traditionally stand during the ceremony. There will be blessings over wine, circling around one another (circling symbolizes the creation of a new home and the intertwining of the lives of both partners), exchange of vows, exchange of rings, breaking of glass, and lot's and lot's of Mazal Tov's!