It all started on a late fall Monday night—November 18, 2019, to be exact. Maria and Oliver matched on a dating app. Oliver had just returned from a six-month deployment in Japan and was back in sunny California. From the very beginning, it felt instant, effortless, and maybe even a little magical. Oliver’s first message wasn’t the usual “hey” or “what’s up?” Instead, he asked Maria about one of her profile pictures. (Which one? Maria had to double-check!) Turns out, it was a photo of her smiling at La Media Luna, San Luis Potosí, México—a picture that completely won him over. When Oliver mentioned he had family in México, Maria thought, "Que?! No way” And just like that, the conversation flowed. Oliver wasn’t much for small talk and suggested meeting in person right away. Maria, amused, agreed—thinking, “si quiere azul celeste, que le cueste.” Two days later, they had their first date at BJ’s in Laguna Beach. Maria remembers seeing Oliver waiting with a big smile and a hug, immediately thinking, “He’s going to be my baby daddy.” They laughed and talked so much the restaurant had to kick them out at closing time. (For the record: Oliver had a burger, Maria had spaghetti.) Oliver walked her to her car, asked for her number, and even called her right then to make sure it was real. No kiss that night—just a warm hug and a promise of a second date. They kept dating, and their time together quickly became filled with adventures and unforgettable memories—watching sunsets at the beach, hiking, dinners, bowling, exploring new places, and celebrating holidays side by side. But Oliver? He was playing hard to get. Their first kiss didn’t happen until the THIRD date—almost two months later! Maria, however, secretly loved it—she thought it was even more attractive that way. The day before Valentine’s Day, Oliver made it official and asked Maria to be his girlfriend. On Valentine’s Day itself, Oliver cooked Maria a romantic dinner at home. Let’s just say it was very intimate, and… well… we’re pretty sure you don’t want to know what happened after that. (We had food coma). Life moved quickly—in the best way. On 08/09/20, they learned they were expecting their first child, Luca James. (That’s when things got real!). On Maria’s birthday, which landed on Thanksgiving Day, Oliver proposed. Just a couple of weeks later, on 12/12/20, they had a spontaneous micro-wedding on their favorite beach in San Clemente. (Maria jokes she had to move fast in case Oliver changed his mind—but only kidding!) Their first son, Luca James, was born on 05/18/21. Two months later, the family packed up and made a big move from CA to MD. Maryland quickly became home. They bought their first house on 03/17/22 and later welcomed their second son, Ebor Leonel, on 09/26/23. Now, as a family of four, it’s finally time to celebrate their dream wedding in México—surrounded by the people they love most. The rest is history… and the best is yet to come!