We first crossed paths in 2019, when Courtney got on the school bus headed to the American School of Madrid. What she didn’t know was that I was going to be her orientation guide for the week. This meant our relationship at the beginning was purely work-related.

But pretty quickly, we found ourselves spending more time together. Our friendship started to grow in ways that felt natural and effortless. I got to know David as someone funny, kind, and a little bit quirky—and he became a friend I could always rely on.

For a long time, we really were “just friends.” And honestly, that foundation was everything. Courtney stood by me through some of the most challenging seasons of my life. She showed up for me in ways that made it clear she cared far beyond what friendship requires.

And for me, it was never about rushing into something more—it was about valuing what we had. But slowly, it became obvious that the way we cared for each other wasn’t just about friendship. It was something deeper. When we finally allowed ourselves to lean into that, it felt so natural, like we had been building toward it all along.

Looking back, it’s hard to even draw a line between when we were “friends” and when we became a couple. It all feels like one continuous journey of growing together.

And that’s what makes our love feel so strong—it’s rooted in trust, laughter, and showing up for each other no matter what.

Today, that journey has led us to Madrid, where we’ve built a life we love in our sunny La Latina apartment across from the park. We fill our days with adventures—traveling, hiking, CrossFit after work, cooking pasta dinners, hosting friends, and scrapbooking memories from our trips. We love exploring Madrid together: wandering through new neighborhoods, enjoying museums, celebrating festivals, and soaking up the culture of the city we now call home.

Marriage doesn’t feel like a huge leap for us—it feels like the natural next step in a story we’ve already been writing for years.

Because our vision is so much bigger than just one day, it’s about building a life, a family, and a future together.

There’s always been a “we” in our story. And now, as we begin this next chapter, we can’t wait to keep writing it—side by side.