Matt and Maricela’s story began during their freshman year of high school in 2013, when they shared a computer class. They didn’t know each other well at first, but they had mutual friends and quickly became close. What started as everyday after-school hangouts turned into something more when Matt admitted to one of Maricela’s friends that he liked her. (Naturally, the secret didn’t last long.) Once Maricela found out, she realized she felt the same—and not long after, Matt officially asked her to be his girlfriend. They’ve been inseparable ever since. From football games and prom nights to countless date nights and everyday moments, they spent nearly all of high school side by side until graduation. College then brought a new challenge: long distance. Maricela attended Sonoma State while Matt went to the University of Arizona. Going from seeing each other almost every day to relying on nightly FaceTime calls, monthly visits, and long weekends wasn’t easy—but it made their relationship even stronger. They made it through college together and graduated in 2021 knowing they were built to last. In 2022, they took their next big step and moved into an apartment together in Alameda. Life there was filled with great memories—weekends in San Francisco, nights out with friends, and plenty of pregame gatherings at home. A few years later, Matt knew it was time to propose. He planned what Maricela thought would be a simple, relaxing trip to Santa Barbara—until he pulled into the Ritz-Carlton. Matt surprised her with a luxurious stay and told her they had one special date planned. That night, he took her to the top of the Santa Barbara Courthouse bell tower. Despite the pouring rain (and plenty of nerves), Matt popped the question—and Maricela said yes. They celebrated the evening with cocktails and dinner and continued the celebration all weekend at one of Maricela’s favorite places: Disneyland. The year that followed was just as exciting. They traveled to New York City and Boston and unexpectedly fell so in love with Boston that they decided to make the big move and call it home. From high school sweethearts to life partners, Maricela and Matt are so excited to celebrate this next chapter with the people they love most.