In the fall of 2011, two Northeasterners crossed paths in the most unexpected of places. By sheer serendipity, Alicia and Anthony met while pursuing their respective master’s degrees at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. That year, Alicia was assigned as the graduate resident building director in the very building Anthony would call home for the semester. Instantly drawn to each other, they bonded over their shared Latin American heritage and similar upbringings in the Northeastern regions of New Jersey and New York. Throughout the semester, their friendship flourished—filled with laughter, storytelling, and the occasional undercooked meal. Though they lost touch after Anthony returned to Long Island, NY, fate had other plans. In 2017, their paths crossed once more, and their connection reignited. Now older and (somewhat) wiser, they approached their relationship with care. Yet, time would prove that their love was always meant to be. In 2019, Alicia and Anthony officially embraced their journey together as a couple. Shortly after, the COVID-19 pandemic granted them an unexpected opportunity to experience life under one roof. With new career milestones ahead, they moved into their first apartment together in North Brunswick, New Jersey. Then, in 2024, against the breathtaking backdrop of the Andaman Sea and a golden Thai sunset, Anthony asked Alicia for her hand in marriage—sealing a love story years in the making. The couple holds deep gratitude for the nostalgic, warm, and comforting embrace of "Mountain Mama"—the soulful muse John Denver immortalized, embodying West Virginia’s sense of home. It was in her embrace that their paths intertwined, leading them to a love story written by the universe.

Why Antigua, Guatemala? ⸻ Both American-born to immigrant parents from Central and South America, Alicia and Anthony grew up navigating the unique balance between U.S. social customs and the deep-rooted traditions of their Latin heritage. This blending of Latin American spirit and Western nuance has been the constant backdrop of their lives—a shared experience that shaped their worldview, their values, and ultimately, their love. At first, they envisioned no formal ceremony—just a quiet declaration of love, simple and sincere. But one day, while scrolling Instagram (in true millennial fashion), a wedding montage sparked something deeper: a longing to celebrate in a space that embodied their roots and reflected the cultural pride they carry forward. And so it was decided: a destination wedding in Antigua, Guatemala. Beneath the centuries-old stone arches of the Convento de Santa Clara, where time-worn walls have crumbled and stood again through earthquakes and care, Alicia and Anthony will honor the resilience and beauty of their heritage. In this sacred, storied place—where love echoes through ruins shaped by time and tenderness—they will vow to cherish one another in this life, and the next.