Julio had recently moved to Charlotte to embark on new business endeavors and Maria was a first year at HPU. They met during a night out in Charlotte at Cosmos, a local club. At midnight that night, Julio celebrated his birthday. Having enjoyed each other's company, they planned another night out a week later for Maria's birthday. After they spent their first holiday season together, they’ve been inseparable. They laugh when they remember their conversations. They both had agreed they "weren't looking for anything serious" and would just get to know each other. Little did they know, it was the beginning of their love story.

Throughout the years, they have bonded over their main love language, quality time. Julio sparked a new found passion for Marvel & DC movies in Maria. She now looks forward to the releases and yes, they do wait until the credits for the extra scenes! Every. time. Maria finally convinced Julio to go to a musical and he loved Aladdin so much that he watched it again in Mexico with his family. They now try to go to any shows that are in town for date night. Julio taught Maria how to watch soccer and football, something she had never done. They love to spend time going to sporting events. Their favorite being Charlotte FC soccer games. Some of their favorite memories are walking to the games and seeing how the city comes alive on game nights. Maria, although she has never played a sport, enjoys supporting Julio and his family and friends at most of their soccer or volleyball or pickle ball games. Along the way, Maria and Julio discovered a 6th love language: food. Food has been the unifying force within their family, their friend group and even in their professional network. It's amazing how food can unite the most diverse of people. Julio loves to brag that Maria had never eaten a taco al pastor before she met him. Maria is forever indebted to him for that! From the delicious meals Julio won Maria over with, to the food truck tacos in sketchy motel parking lots, it's always been love at first bite. Their greatest treasure is the love they share and the love that fills their home which has been a place of welcome for their family and friends to share experiences and meals together.

Everyone knows, Maria is the planner, and Julio is well, the exact opposite. Little did Maria know, she would end up planning her own engagement. What started as a plan for a Christmas photoshoot, became a birthday photoshoot after some rescheduling. To Maria, it was an ordinary day filled with work prior to the photos and a dinner. In true Julio fashion, Julio decided that it would be anything but ordinary. It would be the day that Maria thought would never come, he was going to ask her to marry him. With the help of an unknowing friend, he went to purchase the perfect engagement ring. While there, he solicited the help of his brother to make sure she would love the design. Later that day, they both returned home with very little time to get ready for the "birthday" photoshoot. Julio headed upstairs to help set up while Maria finished getting ready. Once upstairs, Maria enjoyed taking photos as they had done before with the help of their photographer friend. After being instructed to pose, Maria turned her head. It was the surprise of her life to see Julio on his knee. It has been a pleasure for them to share with everyone the good news. Even if the "Congratulations" sound more like "Finally!" or "About Damn Time!"

"The wedding has to be in December" - Julio Over the years, December became "their month." After all, it was when they met, their birthdays, and their favorite holidays, Christmas and New Year's Eve. It only made sense that the wedding would also be in December so they could "celebrate all month" as Julio says. Their loves story unites everyone this December, ten years later. A celebration of many anniversaries and now a beautiful union as husband and wife. And thus begins the start of the next chapter in their love story.