We're getting married!

Summer of 2018, Luis Carlos and Cristina were on vacation in Portugal. They ironically lived 5 minutes from each other when vacationing. Towards the end of both their vacations, they both attended the Festas do São Bartolomeu. They both happened to have stopped at a specific area where there is traditional Portuguese folklore dancing going on. Luis Carlos and Cristina were on opposite sides of the 'circle' but coincidentally happened to look each other's way. Luis Carlos then signaled Cristina asking her if she wanted to dance and she nodded yes. When they finished dancing a traditional 'Cana Verde' (not to be confused with Caldo Verde, the soup) an elderly couple pulled them aside and told them they were the best couple they've ever seen as well as the best dancers. They were both flattered and joked about who was the better of the two. Cristina's friends from Portugal happened to be running late that night and Luis Carlos asked Cristina if she wanted to hang out with him and his friends until they arrived. From that point on their friendship grew. Luis Carlos finally asked her out almost a year later and she accepted. Talk about fine dining and with a view of the NYC skyline to top off some of the best filet mignon she's ever had. Cristina was thoroughly impressed. From then forward they continued going on 'mini' dates to movies and such. Fast forward to April, Luis Carlos and Cristina got into an argument which ended with one of them professing their love for the other (who said it first, only the two of them know… JK it was totally Luis)! The following month, May, Luis Carlos had a work trip and invited her to go with him to San Antonio, Texas. He then orchestrated a romantic dinner overseeing the skyline and a gorgeous sunset. They walked down the Riverwalk and he asked Cristina to “go steady” where to this day there is a lock is placed on San Antonio’s iconic 'Love Lock Bridge'. When they first started dating, you know the awkward 21 questions stage, Luis Carlos had asked Cristina if she could picture the perfect proposal how it would be. Cristina responded that she wanted her family and friends present and that it would be right after dancing a 'vira geral' during her rancho's anniversary. He held on to this memory for nearly four years until 2022 where he proposed to her at Santoinho in Portugal. Her mother had the idea for the outing with both sides of the family to get everyone acquainted and we both agreed and went forward with the idea. Luis Carlos had gotten wind that Cristina and her girlfriends were conspiring about where he'd propose and that it was in Portugal. He made sure to tell Cristina that he wasn't going to do it there because she would be expecting it and did want her to get her hopes up. He then picked a little argument with her the day before the event to throw her completely off because she is impossible to surprise, little did she know... the day of Santoinho, Cristina grabbed Luis Carlos to go dance a 'vira geral' and right after he proposed in front of their families and about 500 other people. Cristina is now a New Jerseyan and the rest is just history. Cheers to love!