It all started when a mutual friend had shown Sasha a picture "of his cute friend" that was transferring to their high school to play soccer. Sasha quickly decided for herself that she will one day date this boy. After passing a few notes to each other on the first day of 9th-grade physics, the two exchanged phone numbers... and, well, the rest is history. They're now living in Center City Philadelphia with their cats, Beaux and Prince, Sasha is in Dental School at Temple, and Mariano is finishing up his last year of Law School at Drexel!

On Sasha’s birthday, one of her “gifts” was a trip to a vineyard, not too far away, for a wine tasting. She was excited because they both wanted to attend a wine tasting for the longest time! When the day of the wine tasting came around, Sasha and Mariano were running a little late, or as they like to say, "fashionably late." Once they got to the winery, they checked-in at the reception area- only to be greeted by the receptionist, Stephanie, who gave them both a little sass for being late. Sassy Stephanie told them to wander the vineyard until a new table became available. As they stepped away from the reception area, Sasha was visibly upset about the sass she just received, but Mariano assured her she’d feel better once she saw the baby goats in a farm adjacent to the vineyard. As they walked around the corner of the barn, a steppingstone path covered in rose petals and lined with hand-painted wooden signs appeared… “who would’ve thought we’d be here 8 years later? “what did I do to get so lucky?” The pathway winded down to a beautiful platform framed with two giant flower arrangements. As Sasha was reading the signs, she finally figured out what was going on. She realized this is THE moment. Mariano stopped, got down on one knee with a sea of grapevines behind him, and asked Sasha to marry him. The two were finally engaged! After lots of happy tears, Mariano told Sasha that they actually were going to do a wine tasting! So they continued walking around the barn, toward a private room in the lower level, where the wine tasting would take place. As Mariano opened the door of the private room for Sasha, a loud yell echoed from the room, “SURPRISE!!!” Mariano invited all of their family and close friends to surprise Sasha. He arranged the entire wine tasting (with some help of course) for everyone. The two celebrated their engagement in the presence of family and friends. It was truly an incredible day and a beautiful start to forever.