Hilda and Michael met in El Paso, Texas. The day they met, Michael was interviewing for a position within the group she was an intern for. Note... this was a position she was hoping to get once she graduated. While waiting for his interview panel to gather, Michael was ushered into a daily morning meeting and decided to sit next to Hilda since she was the only one he had been introduced at that time. As he sat next to her, she introduced him to one of her fellow interns as "the competition." Their paths didn't cross again for another 9 months when she was again an intern, but this moment was etched in Michael's mind, and they both look back and laugh at this being the start of it all (and her boldness).

The summer of 2016 was one for the books. Hilda and Michael got to know each other through daily lunches and sporadic weekend hangouts. They became very good friends and were able to identify with one another on a number of topics. The thing that surprised them most was just how much of an impression they made on one another and the ease of their friendship. Even though Hilda was due to go back to school at the end of the summer, they both knew this friendship was something special and weren't going to let that get in the way. Once the school year started they kept in touch and even planned a trip to Hawaii! The trip to Hawaii was a big step in their friendship, as traveling together shows you sides of another person you don't normally see. Within a few months, they both started thinking back to that incredible trip and realized how compatible they really were. It took a few more months and a couple agonizing Facebook posts from Hilda before Michael finally mustered the courage to discuss taking the relationship to the next level.

The 360 days after the fateful discussion about their relationship featured several months of a long-distance relationship (and weekend trips that were never long enough), Michael getting a new job and moving to Houston, and a job change for Hilda. Through all of the stresses of #adulting, their relationship grew stronger with each new experience. As they started to discuss their future, it became clear that that future was one together. With a vision for the future in both their heads, Hilda casually began to educate Michael on engagement rings, while Michael worked on his proposal plan. After Michael managed to secure the ring, and, most importantly, Hilda's mother's approval, he waited for the perfect moment. A sudden business trip for Hilda, which included a stop in Austin, where her mother and brother live, provided the opportunity he was looking for. With extensive coordination with Hilda's mother and brother, they were able to book a violinist, a photographer, and find a beautiful setting for the proposal. Hilda was lured to Mount Bonnell under the guise of a family photo session, where Michael (and 50+ strangers) were waiting to pop the question, while the violinist played "Perfect" by Ed Sheeran.