Our story began in September 2020—yes, the year of “20/20 vision”—on the day of my brother’s wedding. In the middle of all the excitement and last-minute details, Cristian arrived with his mom to help me finish setting up the venue. I remember exactly what he was wearing and the sound of his voice… but somehow, I don’t remember us actually speaking. (He insists he tried—I was just a little busy running around!) As it turns out, timing had its own plans for us. We missed a few chances to connect, and it wasn’t until an entire year later that our paths truly crossed again. On September 11, 2021, we finally had our moment. This time, I remember everything. Cristian was a little shy and unsure how to approach me, so I invited him to sit next to me. He joked that he’s been known to break a few chairs—I told him he wouldn’t go past the ground anyway. That small moment turned into hours of easy conversation, laughter, and a connection that felt natural from the start. And yet… we still forgot to exchange numbers. Thankfully, just three days later, my sister-in-law stepped in and asked if she could share our numbers with each other. My answer was an immediate yes—and the rest is history.

It was the morning of my birthday, and like every year, I woke up feeling grateful and excited for what this new chapter would bring—never imagining just how unforgettable that day would become. In the days leading up to it, Cristian kept asking what I wanted to do to celebrate. I couldn’t think of anything extravagant—just dinner, cake, and time with loved ones felt perfect to me. But on the day of, he seemed especially curious about one thing: what I was going to wear. I thought it was a little funny how invested he was, but I told him a dress and my cowgirl boots would do just fine. He even suggested we go take pictures at the beach—something I would normally love—but the rain had other plans, so we changed course and met up with family for dinner. The evening was full of laughter, good food, and nothing out of the ordinary… or so I thought. As dinner wrapped up, I suddenly realized Cristian was no longer at the table. In that quiet moment, a thought crossed my mind: “Is today really the day?” As we were getting ready to leave, my in-laws suggested we take a walk by the intercoastal waterway. Then, I was asked to cover my eyes. Laughing (and maybe a couple drinks in), I questioned why—but I went along with it anyway. As I carefully walked forward, I started to hear music playing. When I uncovered my eyes, I was completely overwhelmed. In front of me was a candlelit pathway lined with rose petals, leading to Cristian—standing there holding a ring box in one hand and a bouquet of red roses in the other. It felt like a dream. As I walked toward him, still in disbelief, he got down on one knee and asked the question that changed everything: “Will you marry me?” Without hesitation, and with the happiest heart, I said… YES. From missed moments to perfect timing, our story has unfolded exactly the way it was meant to—and this was just the beginning of forever.