In the spring of 2014 Miles and Mariana were both attending Hofstra University. Mariana was a Freshman and Miles was a Senior. One day Miles was swimming in the Hofstra Pool with his friends who invited Mariana to swim with them. They met that day at the Hofstra Pool and feel that water and the ocean are symbolic in their lives and relationship.

Miles planned a beautiful engagement. He told Mariana they would be going to a steakhouse for dinner but wanted to take a walk on the beach beforehand. As they were walking on the beach Miles pointed to the sand where he had written "Marry Me?" in sea shells. That's when he got down and asked the question. After drinking a bottle of champagne on the beach they walked back to the house where Mariana was surprised by friends and family some of whom had flown from other states just for the engagement. Later that night they partied and danced until the early hours of the morning. The engagement beautifully fit their love for the ocean and could not have been possible without the hard work of their friends and family.