*** It was Fall 2020—right in the middle of a year that felt like the world had pressed pause. Washington, D.C. was in the rearview as Jeff packed up his life and moved to Lakewood to be closer to his sister Leah and brother-in-law, ready for a fresh start and whatever adventure might come next. At nearly the same time, Juan was leaving San Francisco behind, trading his apartment for a few months of digital nomad life with his friends - Connor, Vica, Amber, and Carl. Their first stop: Denver. Neither of them knew it yet, but Colorado was about to change everything. Jeff and Juan met for the first time at a little waffle shop in downtown Denver that October. COVID restrictions were still in full force, and Jeff was debating whether leaving the house for waffles was worth it. But after more than a year apart from Vica and Amber, he gave in—partly for friendship, partly for Nutella waffles. Juan, on the other hand, had a date planned later that same day and fully expected this brunch to be nothing more than a casual meetup with Vica’s best friend from college. Instead, somewhere between coffee, syrup, and Jeff awkwardly fumbling with his mask between bites of his waffle, something shifted. What was supposed to be a simple brunch turned into the beginning of everything. Jeff quickly forgot all of his COVID hesitation because spending more time with Juan suddenly felt far more important than social distancing. The two of them dove headfirst into exploring a city that was new to both of them—turning ordinary days into the kind of memories you keep forever. There was a first date at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, surprise dinners at La Chiva, the best Colombian restaurant in Denver, and more giant lemonades than anyone should probably admit to at Happy Camper—which they still confidently refer to as the best bar in the world. They made the most of every moment, knowing time was limited. On Juan’s last night in Colorado, before heading off to Austin, Texas, Jeff decided there was no chance he was letting this slip away. So he asked the question that officially locked it all in: “Do you want to be exclusive?” Thankfully, Juan said yes. The next nine months meant long distance—split between San Francisco and Denver. It wasn’t always easy. There were flights, FaceTimes, countdowns, and a lot of airport goodbyes. But somehow, the distance only made them stronger. It proved that what they had wasn’t just exciting—it was real. When Jeff eventually joined Juan in San Francisco, everything changed. No more flights. No more time zones. Just the chance to build a life side by side—living only a few blocks apart, surrounded by their closest friends, and stepping fully into a shared future. Together, they took on all the big milestones: new apartments, new jobs, and the beautiful chaos of merging two lives into one. After several happy years in San Francisco, they knew they were ready for their next chapter. Together, they moved to San Diego, where life somehow became even sweeter. They spent holidays blending families and creating new traditions. Jeff started taking Spanish classes at UC San Diego so he could feel even closer to Juan’s parents and culture. They started a coffee business together, made endless beach trips with Maya, and built a life filled with the kind of love that feels both exciting and peaceful at the same time. Then came April. On Juan’s first trip back to Colombia since moving to the U.S. at just six years old, their story came full circle. On a rooftop in Cartagena, surrounded by their best friends, with family watching over Zoom and Ed Sheeran playing through the air by way of a saxophonist, Juan asked Jeff the easiest question they’d ever answer. And just like that—the future was sealed. From there, the next decision felt effortless: A wedding in Colombia. Because every great love story deserves the perfect place to celebrate it.