We met through a mutual friend/co-worker (thanks Jerie Rollins!) at a beer festival in November 2016. Both of us thought each other was cute, but we were with a group, and the timing just wasn't right for either of us.
Five months later, we met up again at a music festival with a couple of friends. Since we were in a smaller group, we had more time to talk and get to know each other. We learned that we have a lot in common, similar careers and goals, same taste in music and same interest in all types of foods, especially anything spicy!
We hung out in group settings a few more times, and then José eventually texted me and asked if I wanted to get dinner. Our first date was at a ramen restaurant called Wabi House. It was on a Friday night and I was so tired from a long week at work, but I was happy to have some one-on-one time with him. Although, I couldn't hide my exhaustion from the long week and I kept yawning throughout the date. Because of that, José thought that I didn't like him and that I was bored, but he was determined to make an impression on me by the end of the night (his words). After our date, he ordered an Uber for us to share and, not according to plan, it dropped him off first since his apartment was closer than mine. So he did the only thing he could think of to show me that he liked me. As he was getting out of the Uber, he leaned in to tell me goodnight, at which I thought it was going to be an awkward hug, but much to my surprise, he kissed me! It made my night and I couldn't wait to see him again! We ended up going on a movie date the next night and saw each other almost every weekend after that.
A month later, we became official boyfriend/girlfriend, and the rest leads up to now!
Picture is from our 1 year anniversary dinner.
Jenn and I dated for 16 months before I proposed. Our relationship naturally progressed quickly and I guess you can say -- I knew this was real. Since we started dating, we've done a lot of traveling, gone to many concerts and visited a few too many breweries. Although, our relationship is more than just good times. Jenn's been my rock and I've been hers. We've helped each other grow individually, as a couple, and now we're looking forward to our life together.
Picture is from our date to the Dallas Museum of Art, a week after we became official.
At the beginning of 2018, we planned out our fall vacation in Europe. We would start in Amsterdam, then to Cologne, Paris, and end in Brussels. I was so thrilled! It was going to be my first time overseas, and José was looking forward to showing me some places that he's visited before. After planning our trip, the months flew by and it was time to go to Europe!
José proposed on a day trip to Rotterdam, Netherlands on November 22, 2018. It was the second day of our Europe trip and, notably, Thanksgiving Day. We had just finished lunch at a ramen restaurant that was across the street from a market hall called Markthal. While we were walking to Markthal, we noticed a ferris wheel. José suggested that we go for a ride to see the city and warm up from the cold. We went on the ferris wheel and started recording videos of the city from his phone. Then he turned the camera towards us and asked me, "What would make this video better?". Since we had just passed an area that had an abundance of sweets, my first response was, "Dessert!". He laughed and repeated the question to me again, but I didn't have an answer. So he began to tell me how much he loves me and how grateful he is of our relationship and then... he proposed! Even in that moment before he popped the question, I had no idea it was coming!
This engagement has been a blast and we feel so lucky that we have each other. We talk daily about our future and I can't imagine a happier life with José.
Picture is from the moment we got engaged on the Sky View ferris wheel.