A Celebration is in order, we're gettin' hitched!

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The excitement was real as Katheryne and her cousin April approached the day of the Sabor Salsa Dance Cruise at San Diego Bay. Days prior, Katheryne realized she had completely forgotten to purchase her ticket for the event which had Sold Out. She glumly told April the news, but resourceful cousin April somehow found someone reselling a ticket. Crisis averted, the party is back on! The day arrives and in true Katheryne fashion, she is running late to the Harbor. Downtown San Diego is nuts and there is no parking anywhere due to a music festival at the Waterfront. Katheryne starts to panic, the boat is going to sail away without her! She finally finds a parking lot that is not full 3 miles away. Katheryne parks, then hastily hops on a scooter and hightails it to the dock. If you can picture Katheryne cruising top speed, running stop signs in her white pencil skirt, stilettos, and curly hair blowing in the wind, you’re spot on. She makes it with seconds to spare and is the last passenger to board as the crew unties the ropes for the evening voyage. This is going to be a memorable night, Katheryne thinks, as she replays the series of events all week that almost caused her to miss the voyage. April and Katheryne excitedly meet on the top of the ship for some laughs, then its straight for the cocktail bar. The band is playing, the music is electrifying and everyone is having a great time. That’s when Katheryne feels his gaze on her. He was standing right in front of her in line making thoughtful glances in her direction. She did not want to make it obvious that she noticed him too, but oh boy did she think he was handsome! After getting through the very long line with several flirtatious glances, he finally strikes up a conversation with her. His eyes were intense and his smile was kind; she felt butterflies immediately. As they approached the front of the bar, Melo offers to buy everyone a round of drinks, at which point he tells Katheryne to have a wonderful night and walks away. What on earth is going on, Katheryne thinks to herself, he didn't even ask for her phone number. This guy is good, she proceeds to process, we are stuck on a boat for several hours, he's got time on his hands! Katheryne continues to enjoy the night and hits the dance floor with her cousin. Barely 15 minutes pass when Katheryne spots him again, walking down the stairs then scanning the room. He locks eyes with her as he approaches, then asks her for a dance. They are inseparable the rest of the evening. It didn't take long for Katheryne to realize that fate put her on that boat cruise that night. She was absolutely meant to meet Melo and fall deeply in Love.

The night started at my best friend Gary’s hotel room as we got ready to go out for his Birthday. Ironically I had been telling him days prior and again that night that I was ready to have someone good in my life. We get ready for a night out at an “All White” Latin dance boat party. When we board, Gary finds our table while I head downstairs to get us some drinks. It was while waiting in line when I spotted Katheryne. Everything about her was so attractive to me on that night. Her long curly hair, her smile, that white pencil skirt, and those heels, oh those heels. I turned to my friend Alonso and said “Bro turn around...I am going to figure out a way to talk to this woman tonight!” As we waited in line I attempted to make eye contact with her while also trying to figure out if she actually came with the man that was standing next to her in line. Either way I knew I just had to meet her. As the line moved, I made my move. I sparked up a conversation with her about the music. When we finally got to the front of the line I ordered us a round of shots to get the night started. I said cheers, smiled, then told her to have a good night while I went to meet up with the guys. I immediately went to tell Gary that I met this gorgeous woman and that I have to see her again. I knew from the moment we spoke that I wanted her in my life. We have been inseparable ever since our first dance together.

Melo proposed at Brooklyn Bridge Park looking over the City Skyline in New York City. Katheryne had no idea Melo had bought the ring, let alone carried it across the country for such a special proposal. Dad, Crystal, and Stephen had all given their blessing.