Manuel and Joanna met during a friend's trip to Yosemite in September 2023. They did not interact much during this trip. The only wholesome conversation they shared was during a walk up to Taft Point. After that, only group activities brought them back together, but they did speak to each other often. Manuel showed his interest with a flower delivery during Valentine's week, and they started dating the summer of 2024. They knew they would marry each other someday... But if you ask Manuel, he wanted to get married after date 3.

After the following setbacks of not having a permit to enter, getting lost to and in the park, Sophie's complaining, losing the whole group, and many, many, water breaks they hiked up to Vernal Falls in Yosemite. The whole time, Manuel was quietly stressing and calculating if he would propose without the group. But the bible says that God grants the desires of your heart. And to their surprise, their friends were at the top of Vernal, Joanna had no idea of the proposal, and she said yes! Yosemite is forever a special place to them.