Mateo and I actually met at church... or some church event. He is a couple years younger than I am, so I didn't have that "love at first sight" moment. I remember he would make his rounds at church, bouncing around and talking to people, and would come up to me occasionally and make small talk with me and my group of friends. In 2016, we began hanging out and then went our separate ways after a few short months (as he had some growing up to do (: ) The Lord actually told me in prayer one day that Mateo would be my husband. But after that happened, nothing made sense. Deep down I cared about him a lot and knew in the back of my mind that our futures would one day intertwine. On Black Friday in 2017, he invited himself to come shopping with me. We shopped, watched a movie ("Wonder" in case you were wondering :)), talked, laughed, and star gazed until 4 am. I was fearful about letting myself fall for him because of what we had been through before. But, I knew it felt different this time. (I know everyone says that, shut up.) In my version, we began dating on Black Friday, but Mateo didn't actually ask me to be his girlfriend until his birthday. (INSERT HUGE EYE ROLL) We've definitely had our ups and downs throughout the past two years. We've even been through some pretty unbelievable things together, but I've watched him grow and learn. And I've watched us grow and learn together, and it has been the most amazing thing. I have never loved and been so comfortable with someone like I have been with Mateo. I'm so thankful and cannot wait to be Mrs. Escaner

Madison’s story is fiction because she has a bad memory. This is the true version. I remember when our friend Heather brought Madison to church. We were having youth service on a Wednesday night. I was young, confident, and some would say arrogant, and that night I was playing guitar for the praise team. I got nervous as soon as she walked in. “Who’s that?!” I fumbled through the songs we were playing, the Word was preached, and I made a beeline to introduce myself to Madison after service was dismissed. She smiled, we made small talk, and I started crushing. Nothing really happened for awhile. Fast forward 2 years, I’m a senior in highschool, Madds is finishing up college, and we started to get closer to each other. I realized she was starting to recognize that I’m older now, and a little more mature. I had all the confidence when I invited her to one of my tennis games so we could hangout after. She said yes. I’d like to say that was when we fell in love, started dating, and lived happily ever after. It wasn’t. In fact, just a few weeks later we couldn’t stand each other. There was still work God needed to do in both of us before it was time, we just didn’t know it yet. A year passes by, it’s Thanksgiving, and I’m sitting with my family watching some football. I don’t know what exactly sparked the idea, but I just got the urge to text Madison. “Do you want to go Black Friday shopping?” “Yes.” We went to the mall, I don’t even think we did any shopping, but we watched a movie together, and I took her home. We ended up watching the stars until early in the morning. This was probably my “Ah hah!” moment. From then on, we started our journey together. Between then and now, there’s been ups and downs just like any relationship. I like to think they were little tests to show us we can make it through anything. Never would I have imagined that I would end up marrying that blue eyed girl that I crushed on, but God! Watch out for Mr. and Mrs. Escaner!

Every year around October/November I go to New York to visit my best friend, Chantel. I had a flight booked for October 31 through November 4. 23 hours had passed since I had booked my flight (if you cancel after 24 hours , you have to pay a cancellation fee) when I remembered one of my friend’s wedding was that weekend. Insert face palm here. I frantically called the airline company, stayed on hold for at least 30 minutes, finally cancelled my flight, and rescheduled for the weekend before. I told Mateo that I had cancelled it, and unbeknownst to me I had just threw a wrench in some major planning. I had a feeling that Mateo was going to propose to me in NYC, but AS SOON as I stepped off the plane Chantel hit me with some disappointing news. She told me that Mateo had planned to surprise me in NY, but something fell through. She reiterated how disappointed he was and that he tried his hardest, but he just couldn’t make it. She also informed me that she was supposed to get specific details from me on how I wanted him to propose once I got back to Mississippi. I only had two specifics. 1. I wanted someone there to take a picture of him down on one knee. 2. I wanted a heartfelt speech. Chantel and I enjoyed our time catching up and exploring the city, and I tried to forget about how much I wanted Mateo there. On Saturday, Mateo was off work and he told me that he didn’t feel well, he was going to play video games, and sleep. All of those things were normal for him on a day off and didn’t raise suspicion with me whatsoever. All weekend Chantel and I had planned to go to Brooklyn Bridge on Sunday to take pictures which is also another totally normal thing for us. We got up early Sunday morning and got ready, but it was raining. It was cold, windy, and our umbrellas were inside out by the time we made it to the train. So we decided to go to Central Park instead. My curls had fallen, my dress was wet, and I was not in the mood to be out and about. Chantel insisted.

It was my last day in the city so why not make some memories with my best friend. We trecked through the storm through puddles and cold, pelting rain. We made it to the Bethesda Fountain in Central Park. Chantel took my phone and began taking pictures of me (lol i thought). She was actually recording as I spun around like a dweeb thinking she was getting some good footage. LOL. Mateo was in the background with a bouquet of flowers and a small box. There was a guy there playing the guitar along with other tourists. Chantel is giving me directions on where to walk, etc. All of a sudden someone taps me on the shoulder and all I could think was, “Who on earth is trying to give me flowers in NYC?” Mateo (and Chantel) had pulled off the ultimate surprise. I can’t even tell you what we said to each other in that moment because of my bad memory maybe? Anyways, Mateo got down on one knee, skipped the speech, and got right to the point :). I said yes of course, but I didn’t know whether I should laugh or cry or be mad because Chantel and Mateo had lied to me for WEEEEEEEKS! The music, the flowers, the location, the surprise... it felt like a dream and I wish I could’ve stayed in that moment for a little bit longer. We explored the city for the rest of the day, and Mateo had actually gotten on the same flight home with me. It was un.believe.able. Let me just say that. I was totally floored and felt so incredibly thankful. I have Chantel’s contact info as well if you need anything planned ;)

Our proposal story is one to remember. Madison had spontaneously made plans to visit Chantel in New York. Up until now I had really been challenged with finding a way to surprise Madison to propose to her. What better way than to surprise her in New York? I was on the way to Jackson to visit my sister and brother in law, they had just been blessed with my nephew, David Michael. I was booking my tickets while driving, I got them all booked and settled. Well later that day, Madison informs me that she had to cancel her flights and book them for a week earlier. “You did what?!” I tried to keep my composure. I had to also cancel my flights and re-book them. I was able to get everything rescheduled accordingly. As time got closer I still had to meet with her parents to ask their approval. This went extremely well, poor Madison got home earlier than expected, so she had to stay prisoner in her room. Her parents were surprised I had made plans to surprise her in New York. Well the glorious day came for me to bring Madison to her flight, two days before mine, and I do my best to convince her I’ve got plans to spend the weekend at home, which really isn’t out of the norm for me. Well I go back to work Friday, and on Saturday I leave my house early on Saturday morning to catch my 6am flight. Early morning Saturday finally rolled around. I got up around 2 am, and left my house at 3am. I drove through the rain to New Orleans. To my surprise, when I get to the airport, the power is almost completely out, save for bathroom lights and guidance lights. This was the case for the next 6 hours. No one was able to be processed through TSA, no one could check their bags in, it was a chaotic nightmare. After much confusion, aggravation, cancelled flights, and several calls to American Airlines, I finally got on a plane to Dallas, where I would connect to go to Newark where my original flight was supposed to go from New Orleans.

A few hours later, I finally landed in Newark, and got an Uber ride into the city. I just went to Penn Station as it was easier to set as a destination. Originally I was suppose to stay in a hostel about 40 minutes away, but after the traveling issues I was just ready to find a place and crash. I walk just a bit, and Pennsylvania Hotel is right in front of me. I booked a room for the night, took a quick shower, and was passed out before my head hit the pillow. The next morning I woke up, checked out of my room, and got another Uber to go to my hostel. I needed to leave my bags somewhere. It was pouring rain, and I was coordinating with Chantel to meet with Madison at Bethesda Terrace in Central Park. I get to my hostel, check in, and leave my bags. I stop in the 7-11 store across from the hostel to grab a cheap umbrella. By cheap I mean this thing flipped inside out every few steps, and really didn’t do much to shield from the rain. I walked to a close donut shop to grab some breakfast. From there I looked on my GPS for a flower shop. I found one just a couple blocks away, so I began walking in the torrent once again. I get my flowers, I’m soaked. Central Park was only about 2 miles away, so I just got a taxi. I get to the inlet for the park, and it’s still a good walk to get to the terrace.

Once again I start trudging through the rain, only this time with flowers to hold along with my cheap umbrella. There wasn’t much foot traffic in the park.... who would be out in this rain? I finally get to the terrace, and text Chantel to find out they’re only a few minutes behind me. I found a quiet corner, set my things down, and start taking notice of my surroundings. This place was PERFECT. The ceiling was colorful and beautiful, the view of the fountain was picturesque, and there was even a guy playing sweet guitar music. I spoke to him to find he only spoke Spanish. God knew this moment was coming, because when I was 16 He helped me get my first job in a Mexican restaurant that a friend of mine owned. There I learned to speak Spanish. 5 years later here I am. I explained to him what I was doing, and asked if he’d play “Can’t Help Falling in Love” when Madison and Chantel get there. I showed him a picture and he agreed happily. I go back to waiting in my corner, and I called my best friends. “It’s about to happen!” The guy with the guitar whistles at me and says it’s time. I hang up the phone and grab the ring box and flowers. Madison walks not 3 feet from me, twirling and spinning and taking pictures. She didn’t even see me. I’ll never stop teasing her for how unaware she is. Finally she gets to the center and I walked out from behind a pillar, tap her on the shoulder and practically shove some flowers in her face. “Oh my Goddddd!” She exclaims. I don’t even remember what all I said, but I do remember saying “Here baby, take these so I can propose to you.” She takes the flowers, I drop on a knee, and I ask her to be my wife. “Yes!” Hands shaking I put the ring on her finger. Operation Propose to Madds was a success despite all of the travel setbacks, and it’ll be an adventure we’ll always remember!