Eight years ago Sarah and David met at the Island House, an oceanside restaurant on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. David grew up in this rural part of Virginia, and like in most small towns in the U.S. everyone knows each other. Upon entering the back deck of the restaurant at night, David saw Sarah’s radiant smile from afar and instantly knew three things: First, she was very beautiful. Second, he had never seen her around the area before. Was she a tourist? Third, he knew he had to go talk to her somehow but was nervous to do so. Luckily, Sarah was accompanied by one of David’s high school friends, so he worked up the courage to introduce himself. They exchanged a few words and she asked him “Where are you from?” after sensing a slight accent. David answered “I’m from Venezuela” and she responded in Spanish “Y yo soy Chilena.” They both smiled at each other and the rest is history. They spoke in Spanish for the rest of their time at the Island House and although they were surrounded by English speakers, the moment felt very private. At the end of the night, they exchanged phone numbers. Both David and Sarah remember going home that night thinking about how familiar and warm each other's presence felt. It’s like they were already connected somehow.

Among the vast number of connections and coincidences here are the ones that stand out the most: ♦ David and Sarah moved to the U.S. from South America around the same time and for the same reasons. ♦ One of David’s high school best friends, Kati, is now Sarah’s step-sister. ♦ One year before Sarah and David met. David went to visit Kati at her house. During this visit, David met Kati’s new stepmom (Sarah’s mom) and shared his life story and his recent volunteering trip to Cambodia. Sarah’s mom liked him and thought he would be a good “mentor” to her daughter. ♦ David’s mom was Sarah’s brother's (Estefan) high school Spanish teacher. ♦ Sarah’s mom and David’s mom knew each other before Sarah and David met. ♦ Both Sarah and David’s dads live in South America. Both know what it’s like to juggle one Spanish-speaking family and one English-speaking family.

They both celebrated each other’s college graduations. They took various adventures to exciting destinations like Angkor Wat, Mont St. Michel, Krabi, and Tikal. They both moved into their first apartment together and years later bought their first home in Richmond, VA. They both shared many stories and laughter at their combined family Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations. They both adopted a precious rescue dog named Coco. Among other things, they both enjoy cooking for each other, spending time doing outdoor activities, tackling home improvement projects, and unwinding after a long day with a glass of wine and a movie on the couch.

Even after seven years, David got butterflies in his stomach after thinking about it. It was after Sarah’s cousin’s wedding in November 2019, that David decided to do something about it. Since traveling is what they love doing the most, David planned multiple surprise trips for the proposal in 2020. However, a once-in-a-generation pandemic suspended most travel and tourism. David hoped that travel restrictions would be eased later in the year, but they didn’t. In November, David decided to ditch the plan and focus on doing the proposal in Richmond. After all, this is the place where they have shared so many beautiful memories together. On the last day of 2020, David surprised Sarah with a list of some of their favorite things to do in Richmond. At the end of the day, they were to “Ring in the new year” at their favorite restaurant. They both dressed up and walked to the restaurant. As they walked to dinner, they paused under the marquee of the historic Byrd theater. David pointed up to the marquee which read “SARAH WILL YOU MARRY ME.” As Sarah read, the sign David was already on one knee holding up the ring he had been waiting to give her all year long. Sarah was stunned at the moment and she smiled at him and immediately said “Yes!” A group of bystanders cheered them on. At midnight, they slow-danced in their living room to “What a Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong both knowing that this dance was about more than beginning a new year together.