Our first date was on March 13, 2019 at Quarter Bar in Uptown Dallas. It didn’t start off famously – Vanessa was late, Xavier kept betting – and losing – on sports games. Yet, there was a definite spark! We continued to spend time together regularly, going out to restaurants, the movies, dog parks (with our dog, Jax), and introducing each other to our friends. On May 5, 2019 we became official. A big step for our next 6,250 steps (otherwise known as a 5K) was our participation in a neighborhood race where we got our first matching t-shirts. Then, Xavier bought us matching shirts for Christmas. Now, we won’t say it is out of control, but we do love our matching outfits. See Halloween. See vacation souvenirs. See every day. Our first out-of-state trip together was a weekend to Chicago, the city that Xavier had just left and was excited to share with Vanessa. We realized that we get along just as well on vacation as we do at home! A few months later, the pandemic threw off our plans for our first international trip together, so we adjusted and took a road trip to visit National and state parks in Utah and Colorado! Xavier discovered a love for hiking and somehow turned this fun activity into a rain or shine competition. Fast forward a few hundred dates and dog park trips later. Vanessa and Xavier took a trip to Key West where Xavier proposed on July 18, 2022 just after breakfast on the last day of our eventful vacation! We laughed, cried, and called our parents. Then, we – of course – bought matching shirts for our flight back home. Next up is our wedding day on November 18, 2023. We are thrilled to have you all be a part of the next chapter in our story!

Xavier is a Network Engineer with CDW. Vanessa would describe him as handsome, fit, motivated, kind, funny, and introverted. He is more competitive than most and a wizard at trivia. Though a man of few words, he recently joined a beer league baseball, and to no one’s surprise, completely slays. Vanessa works for the Osteosarcoma Institute, a nonprofit organization working towards a cure for pediatric bone cancer. Xavier describes her as thoughtful, outgoing, and never one to shy away from telling you what she thinks – his perfect balance. When she isn't at work, she can be found volunteering, spending time with Xavier and friends, or enjoying a good book.