In 2003 my parents bought the house next door to Carlos’ family home. I remember the first time I met Carlos in my backyard. I was sledding down my hill by myself and I could see him and another neighbor at his house through the woods. They noticed me playing by myself and asked if they could join. Our childhood was shared playing outside, surrounded by the rest of the kids in our neighborhood. We share the best memories growing up together on Princeton Drive, running across each other’s yards on a late summer night during rounds of manhunt, walking or riding a bike a mile out to Jay’s deli and back, or riding down a driveway on wheels of your choice (i.e. skateboard, bike, or scooter), sometimes even tugging each other along in-tandem with a jump rope. Carlos and I would remain friends throughout grade school. It wasn’t until our senior year of high school when we finally started to unpack our feelings for each other. His aunt planned and chaperoned a small group of us to take our spring break trip to Puerto Rico. In April 2012 I visited PR for my 1st time, and what I didn't know at the time was that this would be my first visit of many. Along with 8 other classmates, Carlos and I spent a week in paradise together as friends, but one night and a few too many drinks later, we kissed and the rest was history… For the next 5 years, we would be in a long distance relationship while the both of us attended college. I went to a local community college at first, then transferred to the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC, while Carlos was a 4 hour drive west in Williamsport, PA studying at the Pennsylvania College of Technology. The time apart felt like the ultimate test at the time, but at every holiday weekend or long break Carlos would always find his way back home to me. The distance was tough, but we both furthered our education, earned a couple of degrees graduating college, moved back home with our Mom's and obtained the jobs we still hold now, having each other every step of the way into adulthood. In 2022 we moved into our first home together. One year later, during a family trip to Puerto Rico, on March 8th, 2023 Carlos proposed. It only made sense to bring everyone back with us to the magical island where it all began. Our wedding will take place on the island where I fell in love with the boy next door, in the same town where he proposed, and the place he still calls home, in Quebradillas, Puerto Rico. We can't wait for our families and friends to come together and celebrate with us in our favorite place!