I couldn’t help but wonder: When does a love story truly begin? Is it the first time you exchange glances or the moment when a simple chat on a dating app turns into something more? For Robert and me, our story began on Labor Day, September 5, 2016—a day that would forever change the course of our lives.

After weeks of digital flirting, Robert and I decided it was time to meet in person. I had plans to spend the day with my girlfriends, Nichole and Evelia, indulging in cocktails and catching up on life. So naturally, I invited Robert to join us. We arrived at The Nook in Atlanta—on time, of course—but my friends, true to their late-arriving nature, were nowhere to be found.

As I sipped my Moscow Mule and Robert clinked his signature gin and soda with lime, the conversation flowed as easily as the drinks. There was a spark—a twinkle in his eye that matched the one in mine. It was undeniable chemistry, the kind that makes you believe in fate and first dates that turn into forever.

Fast forward to November 6, 2016. Robert had planned a date in downtown Atlanta, one that involved shawarma, Centennial Olympic Park, and a supposed cocktail party at the zoo. But as we strolled through the city, I overheard a street vendor selling shirts for a concert happening at Phillips Arena. My heart skipped a beat—STEVIE NICKS was in town! Anyone who knows me knows Stevie is my spirit animal. I begged Rob to ditch the zoo and hunt for tickets, but he was adamant—“No,” was his final answer. My heart sank; was this the end before it even truly began?

But just as my doubts started to creep in, Robert led me straight to the arena. With a cheeky grin, he pulled out his phone, and the ticket scanner beeped. He had it planned all along—STEVIE NICKS TICKETS! My heart soared as high as Stevie’s vocals, and right there, during that magical concert, Robert asked me to be his boyfriend. And just like that, it was a perfect night, one that sealed our love story with a kiss and a chorus of “Edge of Seventeen.”

Six years later, on November 5, 2022, Robert pulled off the surprise of a lifetime. In the heart of my birthplace, Mexico City, he dragged me away to the Castillo de Chapultepec (IYKYK), a castle so grand it felt like we’d stepped into a fairy tale. As we stood on the veranda, overlooking the city’s sprawling beauty, Robert got down on one knee. I was completely and utterly shocked. With the city as our witness, surrounded by cheering strangers and the scent of romance in the air, I said “Yes.” My hands shook with excitement, and in that moment, a cocktail was definitely in order!

Now, we are counting down the days to May 7, 2025, when we’ll say “I do” in the rolling hills of Tuscany, Italy. It’ll be a celebration of our love, our journey, and all the moments that have brought us to this place—together, forever.

Cheers to love stories that begin with a sparkle and end with a forever kind of shine.