We first met at the Catholic University of America, which we both attended. Although we had several mutual friends and even took a class together, we did not meet until 3 weeks before graduation, when Alejandro invited their mutual friends to his painting studio for a gathering, and Katie ended up coming to bring her friend a phone charger.

We became friends, and we ended up studying for finals together and getting to know each other better. Katie even invited Alejandro to go on a trip she had been planning for Senior Week with several mutual friends. By the time we graduated, we knew we wanted to stay in touch, but were uncertain of whether we would be able to keep talking once Katie returned to Chicago and Alejandro went to Colombia. Alejandro promised to visit Katie in Chicago in the summer, but Katie didn’t think he would be able to do it.

Alejandro did, in fact, manage to visit Katie in Chicago. He spent months working as a dishwasher in the kitchen of a pizzeria to save money for the trip so we could have a nice time together. We spent time with Katie’s friends in Chicago, visited Alejandro’s friends in Ohio, and spent some time with Katie's parents. Everyone kept asking if we were dating, but we weren’t sure yet if we were ready to commit.

We finally officially started dating! Katie spoke to a friend about clarifying her relationship with Alejandro, and she realized that she wanted the relationship to be official. Alejandro agreed ❤️

Alejandro moved to Ohio! Katie was working in Chicago, and we spent the next year taking turns visiting each other in Columbus and Chicago. We got very familiar with the roads and early morning flights in between the two cities, and had plenty of adventures along the way 💕

Our first Christmas together! 🎄

We went on our first trip together with Alejandro’s family to the Dominican Republic!

Katie left to work in South Korea 😥

We had a long-distance relationship for a whole year.

Our second Christmas together, this time in South Korea 🎄🇰🇷

Reunited in Europe ❤️

We even went to Norway to meet one of Alejandro’s favorite painters!

We are finally, officially reunited! Katie moved to Ohio to be closer to Alejandro.

Alejandro proposed on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception 💙🤍 Katie (obviously) said yes! 💍 


We got betrothed, like Mary and Joseph did 💕