It all began in Atlanta, where Maria was pursuing her studies at Georgia State, while Derek was immersed in his education at Georgia Tech. What brought us together wasn't chance, but rather an introduction by Maria's sister. Life has a funny way of dropping hints before a big revelation. Before we officially began our story, we kept crossing paths—strengthening an emerging connection between us. Our relationship blossomed against the backdrop of Atlanta's landscape. From college students with big dreams to adults navigating life's complexities, we've held hands through every transformation. Together, we've cheered at countless Georgia Tech and Atlanta United games. We've swayed side by side at concerts, the music becoming the soundtrack to our story. Our love for exploration has taken us beyond Atlanta. We've felt the warm sands of Aruba between our toes and visited Maria's family in Costa Rica. We've navigated the sunny streets of Tampa, where Maria grew up, and tasted the salt air of Key West. We've danced under the Denver sky at Red Rocks, traveled through California, and enjoyed the warmth of Houston while visiting Maria's sister, husband, and their fur babies. As our relationship deepened, so did our roots in Atlanta. We've called many neighborhoods home—from Brookhaven to Decatur, to our current perch in the heart of Midtown. Each move represented another chapter in our journey. Along the way, our family grew when Derek became a dad to Maria's dog Carlos. Carlos became the center of our world, teaching us about unconditional love and the joy of caring for another being together. When we lost him in 2023, we grieved together, finding strength in each other during one of our life's most difficult moments. After a decade of building our life together, Derek proposed in 2021. Surrounded by the rolling vineyards of Caymus in California, he asked Maria to make it official. With the golden California sun shining, Maria said yes. After 13 beautiful years together—years filled with laughter, growth, adventures, and the comfortable joy of being our authentic, sometimes weird selves with each other—we decided to celebrate our commitment in a way that felt true to us. On February 27, 2025, we eloped, formalizing what we've demonstrated to each other daily for over a decade. Our path from introduction to marriage unfolded naturally, allowing us time to grow individually and together, to build traditions and inside jokes, creating a foundation strong enough to support a lifetime of memories yet to come. We recognize that our love story has been strengthened by the love and support from our friends and family, who have been present through every stage. Though we chose to exchange our vows in an intimate elopement, we couldn't imagine celebrating this milestone without the people who mean the most to us. We're thrilled to invite you to join us for two special celebrations: First, we'll be hosting a wedding celebration dinner in Atlanta at St. Cecilia on August 23rd, where we can raise a glass and share memories in the city where our story began. Then, to honor both our marriage and our 13-year journey together, we're planning a Friends and Family Vacation in Costa Rica over Thanksgiving break—a chance to share Maria's homeland and create new memories in a place that has always been special to us.