Hi friends, welcome back!
I’ve been so excited to finally share this chapter of our story with you. A little while ago, one of our team members thought it would be fun for us to do a Q&A series about how we met, how we got engaged, and our reflections on marriage. We loved the idea, and today I’ll be giving you my side of the story. Tomorrow, you’ll get to hear his. Fair warning—it’s equal parts romantic, funny, and very us.
We know this post is a little overdue, but we wanted to keep the news close to our family and friends before letting it live here on the blog. So thank you for being patient—it makes telling it now even sweeter.
How We Met
Pedro (a.k.a. “mi amor” if you follow me on Instagram) and I met about two and a half years ago. At that point, I had grown tired of the dating scene in West Palm Beach and felt like I had exhausted every option in my city. I wanted to broaden my horizons—literally—so I hopped on Bumble and extended my search radius. That’s how Pedro, living in Miami, popped up on my screen.
We matched, started talking, and agreed to meet for coffee at Panther Coffee in Wynwood. I told myself I’d give it twenty minutes, tops. But then, something unexpected happened—we talked for hours. When he texted me right after to set up our next date, I had this feeling: maybe this wasn’t just another “swipe right.”
When I Knew
I can’t pinpoint the exact moment I knew he was the one, but I do remember the feeling. Peace. Gratitude. That quiet certainty that sneaks up on you when you’re finally exactly where you’re supposed to be. Whether it was lying on his chest at night, hearing “I love you” for the first time, or dreaming aloud about the future—it just felt right. No second-guessing, no hesitation. Just calm joy.
The First “I Love You”
This moment still makes me smile because it’s so perfectly us. He’s a morning person, I’m not. He wakes up early to have his coffee and catch up on the news, while I thrive late at night. One morning, after a long stretch of stress, I woke up anxious and teary. He crawled back into bed fully dressed for work, held me close, and softly said, “I love you… you know that?”
There I was—pajamas, no makeup, messy hair, morning breath—and he chose that moment to say it. Vulnerable and unpolished. That’s what made it mean everything. I whispered it back, and just like that, my worries lifted.
The Proposal
Fast forward to May 11, 2019. We were in Positano, staying at the dreamy Le Sirenuse. That morning started out a little… unusual. At breakfast, Pedro downed two Bellinis before I had even finished my coffee. On our boat excursion later, he grabbed another two. For anyone who knows us, that was out of character—we’re not big drinkers. So I knew something was up.
The twist? I, who practically grew up on boats, suddenly got seasick. Of all days! I spent most of the ride either hunched over the side or passed out trying to ward off the nausea. Meanwhile, Pedro kept the Bellinis flowing, and I thought, something is definitely going on here.
Back at the hotel, he was glued to his phone—again, not like him, especially since he doesn’t even have social media. I teased him about texting some “mystery girlfriend back home,” but little did I know, he was actually coordinating with a photographer.
He insisted we be on the beach at 5PM “to catch the sunset.” I pointed out the sun wasn’t setting until 7, but he brushed me off with a firm “just trust me.” That’s when he asked me to help pick his outfit—if you know him, you know how big of a giveaway that was.
Down at the beach, he suddenly dashed over to a redheaded woman with a camera. “Who is this?” I wondered. Seconds later, she was standing next to us snapping photos as he nervously tugged at a small box stuck in his jacket pocket. Finally, he dropped to one knee, opened the box (upside down, no less), and asked, “Will you marry me?”
Cue the waterworks. My heart was pounding as I managed a teary “yes.” The entire beach erupted into cheers and applause, but all I could hear was him. It was imperfect, funny, and absolutely perfect all at once.
The photographer, who he had secretly flown in from Venice (because he knows me so well), spent the next hour capturing our joy. That evening, we celebrated with champagne and a romantic dinner at La Sponda. By the end of the night, my new fiancé—nerves and Bellinis catching up with him—was fast asleep. And just like that, our engagement story began.
Looking Back
If there’s one thing this journey has taught me, it’s that love doesn’t usually look like the movies. It’s coffee dates that stretch for hours, whispered “I love yous” on messy mornings, seasickness when you least expect it, and rings pulled from jacket pockets at the exact wrong angle. It’s imperfect, hilarious, vulnerable, and deeply meaningful.
And honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Tomorrow, Pedro will be sharing his side of the story, and I can’t wait for you to hear it. Something tells me he’ll have his own version of the Bellini count…
