It all started in 2019 when fate brought them to Pinewood Elementary School. Lauren was spending her afternoons outside as a recess para while Jovany spent his days as a behavioral para, experiencing both the wonderful and difficult sides to working with kids. It was her pleasure to call Jovany when she could no longer handle the difficult side and he would come smooth out the situation. Lucky for her, he always found an excuse to hang outside a little while longer and make the day a little more fun. From that moment forward, they knew what they had was special although Lauren and Jovany continued as friends for the next couple years, growing as individuals and building a fulfilling life. The end of 2021 came around and Jovany and Lauren could no longer deny there was more than just a friendship, but truly the beginning of a beautiful relationship. He finally declared his obvious like for Lauren when he cheekily asked her to be his girlfriend with a Venmo payment. They spent the next 15 months building a foundation for their future, laughing lots and creating unforgettable memories.

Early on in their relationship, they decided to take a detour and extend their date to include a walk on the Stone Arch Bridge. Little did Jovany and Lauren know that 3 1/2 years later, that same place would be a beautiful backdrop to mark the beginning of the rest of their lives. Jovany concocted a plan to get Lauren all dressed up to go to a "work" event with a few of their close friends at The Guthrie. They climbed up to the balcony overlooking the river and Stone Arch Bridge to take in the view before the event. Surrounded by beautiful downtown buildings and the Stone Arch in the background, Jovany wanted to capture this moment for a future Instagram post and Lauren indulged his constant desire to take Instagram worthy pictures. Unbeknownst to her, he had a plan that she was completely unaware of until he pulled out a little rubber duck. Immediately she knew that this was a moment she would never forget. It wasn't until she turned the duck over and saw the words "Will you marry me?" that she fully understood what was going on. He dropped to one knee, and stayed there for a solid 45 seconds before Lauren said "Yes" committing to a life full of love, laughter, and balancing Jovany's extroverted self with her introverted self. And to all those wondering, Jovany picked a stunning, pear shaped rose gold ring that is exactly what Lauren asked for.

Jovany and Lauren are so excited to celebrate the start of this next chapter in their love story with you all. They will be tying the knot overlooking a beautiful sea of grasses and trees, and celebrating after in a rustic 130 year old barn. The rest has yet to be written, but they plan on settling in to a place of their own and adjusting to the new title of Husband and Wife. Cheers to September, 2024!