They say that love works in mysterious ways. For us, it was fate. A connection that had been silently brewing for over 12 years, waiting for the right moment to pull us together. We lived in the same city and met as teenagers, young and silly, not ready for the world. There was always a sense of connection that our stories would someday intertwine, but we remained strangers for our moments of growth. In 2016, everything changed, and after years of living parallel lives, we crossed paths, and suddenly, it felt like the universe had aligned. We spent each and every day together, laughing endlessly, talking through the night, and exploring NYC streets. When we woke up from a day of being together, we immediately would see each other the next morning; it felt like we were connected like glue. But it wasn't just fun. It was a period of support, learning, and unconditional love with the passing of Christina's father. Lauro was and will always be Christina's rock; he was there to not only hold her in periods of grief but also make it his mission to help her see the beauty in life again. In this act of unconditional love, our bond grew deeper with every moment. On April 23rd, 2016, we decided to take our relationship to the next level. Those first three years were a whirlwind as we navigated the challenges of being young adults, figuring out who we were and what we wanted. Together, we motivated each other through school, explored how to make our way in our careers, and adapted to new environments. Yet, amidst all the hustle, we never lost sight of life's little joys. From exploring the lush rainforests of Puerto Vallarta to walking through the ancient Teotihuacan pyramids, each adventure brought us closer. We shared spontaneous moments of joy, like watching Lucha Libre with tequila in Mexico City, taking day trips Upstate, challenging ourselves through Tough Mudder obstacles, and dancing the night away with friends. 3 years quickly turned to 7, and it felt like just yesterday we were falling in love. We knew we were meant to be, so we moved into our first apartment in Bay Ridge and built a home together—decorating, hosting friends for Friendsgiving and Friendsmas, and making memories with the people we love. During the pandemic, we welcomed our fur baby, Choco, into our world. Despite the challenges life threw our way, we grew stronger together. We also explored the world, making unforgettable memories. From getting lost in the cenotes of Tulum, savoring tapas in Barcelona, and swimming in the Mediterranean in Sitges, to wandering Sintra, indulging in Pastel de Natas in Lisbon, and hiking the Algarve—our adventures have been nothing short of magical. We've popped bottles in Amsterdam with our best friends, shared a kiss under the Eiffel Tower, hiked Madeira, and stuffed our bellies with Port wine in Porto. No matter where we are, we’re home as long as we’re together. On July 23rd, 2023, our relationship blossomed into the next chapter when Lauro got down on one knee in Plaza de España in Seville, asking for Christina's hand in marriage. Over the years, Lauro had come to realize that he couldn’t picture a future without Christina by his side, and was more than ready to call her his wife. For Christina, it was simple - there was no world without Lauro. He’s her best friend, her heart, and her forever. We celebrated this beautiful milestone with our closest friends and family in August 2023, surrounded by love, laughter, and the promise of many more adventures ahead. Over the past year, we've cried happy tears, poured our hearts into planning a celebration of our love, and we knew deep down that we wanted it to be intimate, shared with the people we love most, in the sunshine of beautiful Barcelona. In September, we’ll be saying our ‘I dos’ and stepping into the next chapter of our lives together—as husband and wife, ready to build our home and our family. We can’t wait to celebrate this incredible journey with you!