We're Getting Married!

RIESA In 2012, I got my first full-time job at a company where I would go on to meet a videographer named Orlando. 5 years later we were still coworkers, but now working together at a different production company where our relationship as colleagues quickly blossomed into one of deep friendship. Over the course of the next 5 years, our beautiful bond grew even deeper roots and soon I was left with the undeniable fact that I was starting to develop feelings for Orlando even though I was vehemently against workplace romances. As friends and family alike began to see and question the special connection we shared, I always insisted that we were just good friends. Despite my complicated feelings, I believed "we're just friends" was still the truth as Orlando had never verbally expressed an interest in dating me up till this point. Well that all finally changed on Valentine's Day 2022 (nearly 10 years after we first met) when this handsome colleague and friend of mine suddenly showed up at my front door dressed in a suit with a handmade bouquet of red roses and a surprise declaration of feelings for me. Feelings that I couldn't deny I also felt because as scared as I was of dating a coworker, it was evident that God had been leading us towards each other and I was eager to take this leap of faith with Orlando by my side. After nearly two incredible years together as a couple, our relationship title evolved yet again thanks to a 4 word question from my best friend that led to the easiest "YES" of my life. To this day, our special song is Mario's "Just A Friend Remix" so don't be surprised to see us jamming out to this tune on the dance floor come Oct 5th! ORLANDO Riesa and I met about 10 years ago in our first jobs after college. We didn't get to know each other too well until a few years into our friendship. After about 5 years of friendship I knew that she was special, and that I really wanted our friendship to grow beyond that. I knew that Riesa was the sweetest, most appreciative, most overall incredible girl I had met in my life. In this time I was also able to get to know her family, and I was able to develop a pretty good relationship with them, same with Riesa getting to know my family and establish a relationship with them as well. For years I felt like I wanted to be in a relationship with Riesa, but I knew she deserved so much better than to be with the man who I was at the time. Eventually I decided that if I was going to pursue a relationship with her I was going to have to work towards becoming the man that I felt that she deserved to be with. After about 3 years of focusing on improving myself physically, mentally, spiritually, etc. I decided it was time to express my feelings to her, and see if she felt the same way. I went to her house on the morning of Valentines Day, 2022, preparing myself for the worst, and not getting my hopes too high for the best. To my surprise I learned that our feelings were mutual, and although it took a long time for our friendship to develop into the relationship that it became, neither of us questioned that God led us to the most absolute perfect time for our relationship to begin. After that day we had been dating for just under 2 years, which brings us to the night of December 23, 2023, when I asked Riesa to marry me. For years I envisioned this moment, never thinking it would become a reality. I never had a clear vision on when, where, or how it could play out, but our families presence was always at the forefront of my plans for our engagement. It was surreal when this moment became a reality, for us to be surrounded by our families, to have our relationship grow so organically over the years. It was the absolute perfect engagement for us, and I'm so glad that we pulled off an awesome surprise! I'm excited to enjoy every moment of our engagement together, and I can't wait to share the rest of our lives together!