We met in Austin, TX at the Northshore Apartments at a building potluck. We were next door neighbors and we didn’t even know it yet! We had an instant connection as we both realized we had a lot in common. Both sets of parents had been in real estate their whole lives, we were both in real estate with Valeria in design and Chris in commercial real estate, we both share strong family values, and our personalities really complement each other. Valeria is more reserved and Chris never stops talking! It was clear over time that God had brought us together. The sets of events that needed to occur in our lives that led us to live side by side was no coincidence. On our first date, we went to church and we both recall having a strong feeling inside that this was the beginning of something special. Our journey hasn’t been all smooth sailing. We really grew stronger together as six months into our relationship the pandemic hit. We faced difficult challenges such as Chris having to switch careers and start a new business. It wasn’t easy but we realized that we complemented each other so well during difficult times. We supported each other, encouraged each other to take risks and realized that there was no one in the world we would rather weather life storms with than each other. We purchased our first home in 2021! But soon after, our home flooded during the ice storm. Our new home completely flooded while we were out of town, but we picked up the pieces, battled insurance, dealt with multiple bad contractors and ultimately ended up building our dream home! Through every challenge life has thrown at us we have grown closer together. We have found strength in each other’s support, love and companionship. We cannot imagine a life without each other by our side. Therefore, in May of 2021 we decided to build a life and a family together. We said “I Do” in Lake Tahoe, our favorite destination and where we fell in love. As we've hit 2022, we are excited to have the time to focus on planning our wedding. We are very much looking forward to celebrating with you in Valeria's hometown of Dorado, Puerto Rico! www.zola.com/registry/valeriaandchris2022