May 21, 2023 We first saw each other at his older sister’s engagement party. We didn't speak a single word... just a glance here and there, quietly noticing each other. October 15, 2023 Fast forward to his sister's wedding! I had only seen him once all night, but somehow I still found myself wondering if he'd at least try to talk to me. Then out of nowhere, while I'm sitting with my dad, this boy walks up and smoothly asks "Do you want to dance?" right as "La Duena del Swing" starts playing. And finally- he introduces himself. Tony. Ella's little brother. From the second we stepped onto the dance floor, the song honestly didn't stand a chance. We weren't following the rhythm, definitely not hitting the "a la derecha a la izquierda"... we were way too busy talking, laughing, and trying to learn everything about each other in just those few minutes. Somewhere between the spins and the conversation, something clicked! Later that night, Tony made sure to get my Instagram! Believe it or not, all it took was for him to post that he makes music. I knew I had to DM him. And from that text we suddenly could not stop talking. Over the next 2 years, between deep conversations, fun dates, and probably way too much FaceTime, we grew closer and closer. And now here we are - getting married - all because one of us finally decided to say hi!

May 21, 2023 “Whoa, who’s that”, I thought to myself…” “Should I talk to her?…I don’t want to come off as a player…I have no opening to naturally ask her name, and break the ice…Then my close friend tells me she’s wearing a ring on her ring finger. Mission aborted. But wait…why do our eyes keep finding each other? Girls only do that to guys that they like, right?…”Doesn’t Matter. She’s wearing a ring. She’s probably a Bethelite, I wonder where her husband is. She’s always next to that other sister too…Hhhhm, oh well. Summer 2023 I prayed to Jehovah about what type of sister I wanted my marriage mate to be. - She needs to be a Pioneer - Needs to be academically smart because I’m not - Someone that tries to understand my odd brain and accept the weird person I am - Someone that’s introverted, because they’ll balance me out. October 15, 2023 Before I walked into the reception of my sisters wedding. I prayed…”Jehovah, can I have an experience with someone tonight? Make a new friend, or even have a great time with someone I already know…this is how I’m feeling Jehovah…” As I walk in and find my seat for the gathering, my eyes start to look for someone, anyone, a familiar face that I can chat with….wait…it’s her!? I see my cousin. We get straight to talking. She asks, “anyone here?”… I reply, “Yeah, but she’s married”…Who?… “The girl in the green dress” “Tony, she’s not married, that’s Jalynn, she’s 20” That moment, I was so excited. But that fear inside that I always had began to flow through my chest….But this wasn’t going to stop me. I learned how to salsa, bachata and merengue, I’ve accepted the idea of rejection and making a bad first impression. All I needed was a chance…and it came…only 5 Spanish dances later of me sitting at my chair trying to muster up the courage to ask the most gorgeous sister I’ve ever seen to dance. Who’s also been sitting in her chair for a couple songs as well. It was time. I walk up saying to myself…Just be you…Don’t be confident, be comfortable. Be Tony. Be Tony. Be Tony! Don’t be anyone else but Tony! “Hi, I’m Tony, would u like to dance?” With the most elegantly adorable smile the sister says,” yeah” I ask, “what’s your name?” She says, “Jalynn” I say with that Rodriguez charm,” well Jalynn, we’re ganna try some new things today”… In that moment…It was the start of something that would be so life changing, that I’d ask this very same sister in the green dress and that knock out smile to marry me.