The Luminaire

Wedding Day

Ceremony

Reception

Winter

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Our Wedding

Wedding Day Timeline

4:30pm: Ceremony5:45-6:45pm: Cocktail Hour7pm: Reception, Plated Dinner9pm: Late Night Snack10:30pm: Bride and Groom Exit

Schedule

EnglishIt all began in the fall of 2016 at Pomona College in Claremont, California. Ayleen, a bright-eyed freshman, was heading to her 9 a.m. Introductory Genetics class. Sergio, then a sophomore, was just finishing his 8 a.m. Organic Chemistry class. As he left the lecture hall one morning, their paths crossed for the first time. In that fleeting glimpse, an everlasting spark was created—he knew he had to meet her. Their connection grew slowly but surely, with brief glances and encounters in the mailroom, school lounges, and campus parties. Ayleen would try to time her arrival to Genetics, hoping to catch a glimpse of Sergio skating down from Organic Chemistry. Each time they locked eyes, it felt like the universe was quietly nudging them together. It wasn’t until a mutual friend introduced them formally that their love story truly began. Sergio offered to help Ayleen prepare for her Genetics test, and although Ayleen already felt well-prepared for her test (and Sergio realized she didn’t need tutoring), she saw this as a perfect opportunity to get to know him. That study session on September 18th, 2016 was the start of an inseparable bond. In 2019, when Sergio graduated, life took them in different directions—Sergio moved back to Chicago, while Ayleen stayed in Claremont before later heading to Houston for medical school and London for her Master's. Despite the miles between them, their love didn’t waver. Long-distance was difficult, but each reunion felt like magic, making every challenge worth it. From exploring the streets of Southern California, Chicago, New York City, Miami, Houston, Monterrey, London, to the sunsets in Greece, they created unforgettable memories together, no matter where life took them. Even when life threw obstacles at Ayleen or Sergio, they were able to get through them thanks to the other’s unconditional love and support. Sergio always knew that Ayleen was the one he wanted to share his life with. He couldn't imagine a future without her. So, at the start of 2023, he began to think of ways to propose. He just needed to find the right moment to make this next step all the more special. In January 2024, when Ayleen came home for the holidays, Sergio proposed with the help of loved ones, marking the beginning of their forever. Ayleen returned to London with a beautiful ring and the promise of a lifetime of love. Today, they share their lives with their beloved fur babies—Eevee, their precious cat, and Benito, their sweet little Yorkie. Together, they're building a life filled with love, laughter, and endless adventures. And now, they're beyond excited to celebrate their love story with family and friends on March 21, 2025, as they start this new chapter together. EspañolTodo comenzó en el otoño de 2016 en Pomona College en Claremont, California. Ayleen, una estudiante de primer año con ojos brillantes, se dirigía a su clase de Genética Introductoria a las 9 de la mañana. Sergio, que entonces era de segundo año, acababa de terminar su clase de Química Orgánica a las 8 de la mañana. Al salir del salon una mañana, sus caminos se cruzaron por primera vez. En ese vistazo fugaz, se creó una chispa eterna—él supo que tenía que conocerla. Su conexión creció lenta pero segura, con miradas y encuentros breves en el correo, en los salones del campus y en las fiestas de la escuela. Ayleen trataba de llegar a su clase de Genética justo a tiempo, esperando ver a Sergio patinando de su clase de Química Orgánica. Cada vez que sus miradas se cruzaban, sentían como si el universo los estuviera empujando silenciosamente el uno hacia el otro. No fue hasta que una amiga en común los presentó formalmente que su historia de amor realmente comenzó. Sergio se ofreció a ayudar a Ayleen a prepararse para su examen de Genética, y aunque Ayleen ya se sentía bien preparada (y Sergio se dio cuenta de que no necesitaba tutoría), ella vio esto como una oportunidad perfecta para conocerlo. Esa sesión de estudio el 18 de septiembre de 2016 fue el comienzo de un lazo inseparable. En 2019, cuando Sergio se graduó, la vida los llevó por caminos diferentes—Sergio se mudó de vuelta a Chicago, mientras Ayleen se quedó en Claremont antes de dirigirse a Houston para la escuela de medicina y a Londres para su maestría. A pesar de la distancia entre ellos, su amor no titubeó. La relación a distancia fue difícil, pero cada reencuentro se sentía mágico, haciendo que cada desafío valiera la pena. Desde explorar las calles del sur de California, Chicago, Nueva York, Miami, Houston, Monterrey, Londres, hasta los atardeceres en Grecia, crearon recuerdos inolvidables juntos, sin importar a dónde los llevara la vida. Incluso cuando la vida ponía obstáculos en el camino de Ayleen o Sergio, lograban superarlos gracias al amor y apoyo incondicional que se daban mutuamente. Sergio siempre supo que Ayleen era la persona con la que quería compartir su vida. No podía imaginar un futuro sin ella. Así que, a principios de 2023, comenzó a pensar en maneras de proponerle matrimonio. Solo necesitaba encontrar el momento adecuado para dar este siguiente paso de una manera muy especial. En enero de 2024, cuando Ayleen volvió a casa para las fiestas, Sergio le propuso matrimonio con la ayuda de sus seres queridos, marcando el comienzo de su para siempre. Ayleen regresó a Londres con un hermoso anillo y la promesa de una vida llena de amor. Hoy, comparten su vida con sus queridos bebés—Eevee, su preciosa gata, y Benito, su adorable perrito Yorkie. Juntos, están construyendo una vida llena de amor, risas y aventuras interminables. Y ahora, están más que emocionados de celebrar su historia de amor con familia y amigos el 21 de marzo de 2025, cuando comienzan este nuevo capítulo juntos.

Ayleen and Sergio

Our Story

Photos

Bridal Party

Khadijah Thibodeaux

Juliana Leonardo

Ariana Olvera

Isabella Izquierdo

Brenna Briles

Valentina Diaz

Grooms Party

Thomas Gough

Roberto Medina-Hernandez

Justin Henderson

Edinam Eshietedoho

Gustavo Galo

Wedding Party

Plus One's and Children

Directions, Transportation, and Accommodations

Wedding Dress Code

Menu & Dietary Restrictions

Wedding Registry & Gifts

Q + A

Travel

Dining

We love to follow the Houston Chronicle's Top 100 Restaurants. Each recommendation is amazing and we have tried to eat at each one. We'll highlight some of our favorites below!

"The&nbsp;best&nbsp;Mexican food&nbsp;in&nbsp;Texas since&nbsp;Texas&nbsp;was in&nbsp;Mexico." The Original Ninfa's on Navigation has been a Houston classic for decades. Mama Ninfa Laurenzo is credited with popularizing sizzling fajitas in Texas. A great place to have some fajitas, queso, and margaritas! El Tiempo Cantina, owned by Mama Ninfa's descendants, is also great!

The Original Ninfa's on Navigation

One of the best Mexican restaurants by the renowned Mexican chef, Hugo Ortega. Ayleen likes the cabrito!

Hugo's

Another restaurant by Hugo Ortega! Xochi specializes in Oaxacan cuisine. The moles and desserts are a must-try.

Xochi

Ayleen and Sergio are HUGE fans of MasterChef. Luckily, Houston is home to some restaurants of the AMAZING chef Christine Ha, winner of season 3. Blind Goat is a fusion of Vietnamese and Texan cuisine. Everything is spectacular, but the Rubbish Pie a la Mode with fish sauce is a must. Don't knock it till you try it - it's what gave Christine the win in season 3!

The Blind Goat

Delicious Indian-fusion food! Ayleen was such a regular here that at some point that she was on a first-name basis with her favorite waitress at Pondicheri! Some highlights on the menu are the coconut crab dosa, samosas, thalis, and the vindaloo ribs. Their bakery is also really good!

Pondicheri

Coltivare is always a go-to for Ayleen and Sergio whenever they want some fresh Italian food! They have a backyard garden where they source ingredients for their menu! Ayleen and Sergio's favorites include the focaccia and burrata, chicken liver mousse, chicken wings, and the wood-grilled chicken!

Coltivare

Everything at Nancy's is really, really good, but we highlighted a crowd-favorite: the Nancy Cakes. Make a reservation before coming to Nancy's Hustle - it's very popular but also in a small space! Fun Fact: Dua Lipa featured the Nancy Cakes on her Instagram story when she did a concert in Houston! They're that good.

Nancy's Hustle

Naturally, Ayleen absolutely loves Cajun and Tex-Cajun food. Whenever it's crawfish season, you'll catch her with gnawing on two pounds of crawfish and shrimp. Sergio's kind midwestern self, however, is not the hugest fan of boils but will happy watch Ayleen chow down. BB's is one of her favorite spots! The etouffees are also delicious.

BB's Tex-Orleans

Viet-Cajun is something really unique and special to Houston! Houston has one of the largest Vietnamese communities in the US, and the fusion food that has resulted is delicious. Crawfish and Noodles has even been featured in Netflix's special "Ugly Delicious." Here, you can enjoy a seafood boil with different flavors and really yummy noodle or rice dishes!

Crawfish & Noodles

Speaking of Vietnamese food, the Bahn Mi's are Roostar are also a must-try! They will be a tad more expensive than your usual Bahn Mi prices, however, it truly is worth it. Ayleen and Sergio's go-to order is a Chopped Ribeye with added pate, Grilled Pork with egg and avocado, and the garlic butter fries.

Roostar

If you want a burger from somewhere other than Whataburger, Stuffed Belly is a great option! Sergio's favorite is the Sichuan Chicken Sandwich and Ayleen goes for the classic Belly Burger. This restaurant is also owned by Christine Ha! Fun Fact: Ayleen named the mud pie on the menu! Get the "Bayou Mud Pie" :)

Stuffed Belly

Any BBQ joint in Texas is likely to be good, but this is one of Ayleen and Sergio's favorites! For the out-of-towners, yes, you order meat by the pound at BBQ joints!

Roegels Barbecue Co

Bars

If you couldn't tell from the picture under the "Home" tab, Ayleen and Sergio love to try new bars! Below are their recommendations.

Order the Salty Cat. Seriously, try it. It's one of Ayleen's all-time favorite drinks. The food here is also delicious if you're looking for drinks and food!

Better Luck Tomorrow

This cocktail bar is the only place in Houston to have a James Beard award! It's definitely more pricey than your typical bar, but very worth it. Some of Ayleen and Sergio's favorites include the Cherry Bounce Sour, Lychee Highball and the Tepache Julep.

Julep

Another solid cocktail bar, but this time in the heart of Montrose! It gets very busy here, so this is a place more to "start the night." Ayleen recommends walking over to Pistoleros after some drinks here for chips and queso!

Anvil

Listen, sometimes you just wanna sit down at a good restaurant okay, you want there to be chips and salsa on the table. You want a fat margarita okay, and you want your friend to look you in the eye and tell you something so scandalous that your jaw is on the floor. Doneraki is the perfect place to do just that.

Doneraki

Cafes

Ayleen has some strong opinions on the coffee scene here in Houston!

For Ayleen, this is her favorite coffee shop. It has everything she wants: good coffee, delicious sweet treats, and a setting that somehow makes her get to work. This was her go-to spot to study for her USMLE exams and to complete her Master's thesis! Her favorites are the Iced Mocha and the Cowboy Cookies.

Blacksmith

Besides cafes in Chinatown or Katy Asiatown, Mille Cafe has one of the best Vietnamese Iced Coffees!

Mille Cafe

Delicious sweets and baked goods! The Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookie is known favorite.

Common Bond Bistro & Bakery - Montrose

Un Caffe is on the pricier side for coffee in Houston, but it is really good and unique. They have a really cute drink called the Iced Citrus Americano that has a cold-brew ice bear on top :)

Un Caffe

"Coffee for Justice." All proceeds from this coffee shop go toward ending human trafficking in Houston, and another pro is that the coffee is really good!

A 2nd Cup

Activities in The Greater Houston area

Eleanor Tinsley Park is a section of Buffalo Bayou Park that will offer you a great view of the Houston skyline!

Eleanor Tinsley Park

Located in the Houston Museum District, the MFAH hosts rotating exhibitions, educational programs, film screenings, and lectures. Make sure to walk through the outdoor Cullen Sculpture Garden if you stop by!

The Museum of Fine Arts

Houston Museum of Natural Science

Hermann Park

The Galleria

Chinatown

Galveston Beach

If it's your first time in Texas, Sergio HIGHLY recommends stopping by a Buc-ee's! It is more than just a convenience store and gas station; it is an experience. Below are 3 locations in The Greater Houston Area Buc-ee's KatyAddress: 27700 Katy Freeway, Katy, TX 77494Situated west of Houston along I-10. Buc-ee's Texas CityAddress: 6201 Gulf Freeway, Texas City, TX 77591South of Houston, between Houston and Galveston, along I-45. Buc-ee's BaytownAddress: 4080 East Freeway, Baytown, TX 77521Located east of Houston along I-10.

Ayleen & Sergio

Ayleen & Sergio

Schedule

Wedding Day Timeline