True love is friendship dipped in honey

We met 13 years ago in Fresno, California, at a youth group gathering. For 9 years, we were great friends, our bond extending through high school, college, and beyond. We've always been there for each other, supporting one another through moments of triumph, hardship, and pivotal life events. In the summer of 2020, our feelings for each other blossomed, and the rest, as they say, is history! Though we've faced challenges along the way, both of us have made a deep commitment to each other and to God, which has allowed our love and relationship to overcome any obstacle. Three years later, in 2023, after much prayer and reflection, we decided that we wanted to spend our lives loving each other (Natalia had made this decision a couple of years prior). We wanted to grow, mature, and ensure we were fully ready before making such a profound commitment. Once we felt prepared, we wasted no time. I (Brailin) asked Natalia's parents for her hand in marriage, custom-designed and ordered her ring, and planned the proposal—all within the same week of making this decision. The proposal, which took place in Austin, Texas, unfolded exactly as I had envisioned. And now, nearly a year since we eloped, we are eager to celebrate our love with a beautiful ceremony surrounded by our cherished friends and family♥️