A tale as old as time...they met on a dating app! Eduardo saw a midwestern cutie come across his screen and was instantly intrigued. He sent her a voice note that started with "Hey Melissa..." and they continued to bond over their dislike for Adam Sandler and love for sushi. So it was only fitting that Eduardo asked Melissa out to Momo Sushi. If you ask Eduardo, he will say Melissa interrogated him with a list of questions. But honestly, she just couldn't believe he was this perfect! This did not deter Eduardo from a second date, where they shared a picnic under blossoming cherry trees at the Washington D.C. Tidal Basin. Over the next few months, it was clear they had something special. They spent the summer getting to know each other's friends and family, making memories that would set the foundation of what was to come.

After only 6 months of dating, Eduardo knew Melissa was the one. Not only did he ask her to move in, but her orange cat, Garfield, too! It was soon apparent that Melissa was the visionary and Eduardo the executor. In the blink of an eye, Eduardo's bachelor pad became a loving home and a wild cat's domain. After months of making the place their own, Melissa threw Eduardo a birthday party in May 2024. This was the first time The Clawson's and Deleon's met. Lets just say, they were the missing piece each family needed. It was a night full of love and laughter, making it seem as if they had known each other for a lifetime.

Melissa and Eduardo planned a two week Europe trip to visit his family in Germany and Austria. The first stop was Paris, where they booked a wine tour in the Champagne region of France. The last leg of the tour was in the quaint city of Épernay. After a delicious French lunch, Eduardo took Melissa on a stroll to a beautiful public garden at the Hôtel de Ville d'Epernay. During their walk, they stopped at a gazebo, overlooking a pond with a fountain. Before Melissa knew it, Eduardo was down on one knee asking her to spend the rest of her life with him. There was of course no hesitation from Melissa. The couple spent the remainder of the trip celebrating with loved ones. It has been a fairytale since the beginning, and the couple cant wait to see what the rest of their story holds.