Back in high school, Jessica and Alberto ran in similar circles but never really crossed paths. Alberto definitely knew who she was, though Jessica mostly remembers him as one of those familiar faces on social media. Years later, during the coronavirus lockdown in the summer of 2020, they reconnected online and started chatting.

At the time, Jessica was living in Temple City, California, and Alberto was in Chandler, Arizona. With everything closed and plenty of quiet evenings, they bonded over humor, shared interests, and easy conversation. What began as lighthearted messages turned into a comfortable and trusted friendship that carried them through those unusual months apart.

That fall, Alberto came home to SoCal to visit family, and they made it a point to finally hang out in person. With not much open, they grabbed tacos from a local truck, then sat in Alberto’s Jeep to watch the full release of Hamilton on the dashboard screen. Between singing along and a little nervous small talk, it was definitely outside their comfort zones (especially Beto’s!), but they had such a great time that they couldn’t wait to see each other again.

Each visit after that brought them closer, and soon their friendship turned into something more. Beto moved back to California, and Jessica made the bold move of inviting him to her brother Joseph and sister-in-law Denise’s wedding, where he met most of the family for the first time—a big step for Jess. On Pi Day, March 14, 2021, during a trip to Temecula with her sissys Jennifer and her beau Joe, Alberto asked Jessica to be his girlfriend. Life together has been full of laughter and love ever since.

As their relationship grew, they started sharing little adventures, including a quick trip to Sedona, Arizona with friends. The trip was mostly focused on a beautiful hike through the red rocks, a chance to enjoy nature and de-stress. Afterward, they grabbed a bite at Mariposa, one of the first times they ate out together, and admired the stunning views. Some might even say Beto fell in love with Jess under those Sedona stars. Fast forward to New Year’s Eve 2023, when Alberto took Jessica back to that same spot in Sedona and proposed beneath the very same cotton-candy night sky. It was romantic, beautiful, and emotional- Jessica definitely cried… and said yes! They celebrated the evening with dinner at Mariposa alongside her brother Jacob and Cindy, and the next day, they enjoyed a gorgeous celebratory hike through the red rocks, soaking in the views and the start of this new chapter together.

Since then, our bond with God, family, and friends has only grown stronger. Our greatest joys are spending time together, whether we’re watching movies, cheering at LA Kings games, getting lost in our favorite movies, hiking, trying new restaurants, or hanging out with our nephews. This past summer, turning our first home together into a place that truly feels like “us” has been one of our favorite adventures yet. We’re endlessly grateful for all the love and support around us and thank God for every blessing. We can’t wait to celebrate our marriage this December and continue this beautiful journey surrounded by the people who mean the most to us.