We first connected through Tinder, which we jokingly call "the old-fashioned way." At the time, both of us were undergraduates at UC Berkeley, deeply immersed in our bioscience research. With so many hours spent in the lab, meeting people at events or elsewhere wasn't easy. But our first real connection happened over the phone. Our first phone call was really when we started to be smitten—even before we ever saw each other in person. We talked for three hours, well into the night, on that first call.

Gwyneth: For me, his voice was the first thing that made me melt—rich, deep, and velvety, it was comforting and warm. I was instantly attracted to his voice and his mind before I ever laid eyes on him. He was sweet, thoughtful, clever, and brilliant; truthfully, I’ve never been so nervous for a first date in my entire life. I went so far as to FaceTime my mom to check my makeup and outfit, and I made myself so anxious that I ended up running late, taking an Uber to the ramen shop, which was absolutely within walking distance. In the Uber, I mentioned to the driver that I had a date I was anxious about. He looked at me through the rearview mirror and said, "Why be nervous? Who knows? Maybe he's the love of your life." When we finally met in front of the restaurant, I was struck by how incredibly handsome he was—his hazel eyes, beautiful smile, and broad build were like catnip. He was tall, dark, and handsome incarnate. Every moment of that first date was pure magic, and I don't think I've ever connected with someone so deeply in such a short period of time. We were so caught up in each other that we didn’t want the night to end. Even after closing down the restaurant, I agreed to go for a walk in the brisk night (in heels!) because I couldn't bear to part ways just yet.

Alejandro: That first phone call with Gwyn was incredible. Finding someone who was so genuinely interested in my work, who was hilarious, and who was an absolute joy to talk to made me so eager to meet her in person. I was immediately drawn to her personality, her warmth, and her endless wit. She was under the weather during that call, and I couldn't help but offer to send food, soup, or medicine to help her feel better. That’s why I suggested ramen for our first date—she still wasn’t 100%, but I was determined to meet her before I had to head out of town for a research conference. When I first saw her, I was struck by her fiery red hair and those high-heeled combat boots. I was immediately head over heels for her; she was absolutely stunning. The entire experience at the ramen shop was so much fun, and I didn’t want it to end. Even though I had to leave for the conference, I asked her out for a second date as soon as the first one ended. I texted her every chance I got during those three days in Texas. On my way to the airport, in the middle of the night, I couldn’t resist asking if she’d go out for breakfast with me as soon as I landed. She—an insomniac to the core—answered a minute later that she’d love to, and I think I knew she’d be my wife from that second date having breakfast at a rock n’ roll themed café.

Gwyneth: The thing that made me want to take things to the next level with Alex was how secure he made me feel. From the very beginning, he was steadfast, communicative, trustworthy, and compassionate. Never once did he make me question my place in his heart, my value, my beauty, or my abilities. He’s inundated me with unconditional love, affection, and support since day one. Just four weeks in, when he felt it, he told me he loved me. I never had to question his feelings or his commitment to me. When I was injured—rear-ended by a semi-truck—just a month into dating, Alex stepped up completely and essentially moved in to take care of me. I couldn’t even wash my own hair or get out of bed under my own power—I was a shell of myself. But he never wavered and refused to leave my side through the years, surgeries, and suffering it took to recover. He’s the kind of man who loves deeply and unrelentingly, and I am so profoundly lucky to be his.

Alejandro: It was seeing how passionate Gwyn is about everything she does that made me what to take our relationship to the next level. She is unfailingly honest and deeply determined, whether it’s her work, her family, her friends, or anything in between. Taking care of her after the accident, I witnessed her fierce resolve to get better and her unmatched grit and resilience in the face of disaster. She never wavered or threw in the towel despite what she was enduring. She was powerful and beautiful, and I knew there would never be anyone else like her. From the moment we met, I wanted her to be mine, and more importantly, I wanted to see happiness beaming from her every day, with me by her side.

After two years together, we decided to expand our little family to include a dog. We adopted a spirited (slightly unhinged) miniature dachshund in middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. Willow, said depraved sausage dog, was our first fur baby. We had Willow for a year before deciding that she most definitely needed a sibling. Soon after, we rescued Pandora—a sweet-tempered labrador mix—who joined our family. The two of them are absolute joys, and we are very happy to have such amazing pets to enrich our lives.

One of the things we have cherished most about our relationship has been the opportunity to start to see new corners of the world together as a couple. While COVID and back injuries certainly put a damper on this aspect of our relationship for a few years, we have since been on a number of adventures including Hawaii, Florida, Seattle, Japan, Mexico, and Costa Rica!