Sonia and I met in the summer of 2021, a strange time as we all emerged from a global event that had reshaped lives worldwide. At the time, I was working my way through feelings of anxiety, uncertainty and change as I was in the early stages of a new job (having lost my old one due to the pandemic) and moving out of my home I had been living at the last 3.5 years. Sonia had been going through a journey of grief and healing, navigating those uncertain times while carrying the loss of a loved one in her heart. When we met, we didn’t expect it to happen but we very quickly became each other’s support, peace and encouragement. What started as a casual bond deepened into something meaningful through a shared sense of stability, and I realized early on that I wanted a future together. Two years later, I planned to propose during a cruise we’d booked for my birthday, choosing a lighthouse in the Bahamas as the setting. I decided this was a great smokescreen (being a birthday trip), while the lighthouse stood as a clear representation of our love; embodying the light and guidance we’ve always been for each other. However, due to unexpected inclement weather our ship was rerouted and we headed to Mexico instead. I ended up proposing on a small, secluded beach in Costa Maya. To bring our lighthouse story full circle, we took some of our engagement photos at a lighthouse in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, a place that holds special meaning for me and somewhere Sonia has grown to love as well. Today, we’re grateful for all of the highs and lows that guided us here and we can’t wait to celebrate our next chapter with all of you!