Our story: John and Lupe. 
We both graduated class of 2016 at Newark Memorial High School.
 Never really crossing paths, but mutuals on social media.
 Living just 5 minutes away from each other, we just happened to end up going to the same gym.


It all starts on November 14, 2022. I, Lupe thought it would be a fun idea to spend money on yet another gym membership. It’s important to know this part of the story since I was working at a gym at the time. I already had a free membership. 

NOW before you judge me, I was doing it for a good cause. A close friend asked me to help her out with her fitness journey. So I did, there we go signing up to Fitness 19 in Newark, the newest gym conveniently close to my house. For the good cause that I supported, I like to believe that’s why God blessed me with everything I’ve ever prayed for: 
a muscular man with a ponytail. 

His first words to me were;
“Hey stranger.”

Look, going to a new gym for the first time, actually happens to be one of the scariest experiences the average human being experiences. That is why most give up on the gym too soon.
Yet in my experience, if you can get past this fear it means you are stronger than you think. You’ll reach your fitness goals in no time.
That’s what I tried to tell my friend 
but as God's plan goes she stops going and there I was having to go to the new scary gym alone. 

Ultimately I had two choices, keep going to this gym and make it worth it by making new friends, or quit and cancel my membership.
I had tiredly suffered with depression for a long time and that was enough. I was tired of quitting. It was time to let myself enjoy life and put myself out there.


 It was almost like the day I finally decided I would take back control of my life, God was there.
 It was out of character, maybe even an out-of-body experience where Jesus took the wheel. 
I went up to the muscular guy with a ponytail and asked him if I could work out with him.
Imagine this, I was 120 lb with burgundy hair asking a guy who benches 225 if I could work out with him and his intimidating strong friend with blue hair.
I couldn’t even bench the bar. What gave me the confidence? Delusion? No. I was trying here. 

They were surprised I even showed up to work out with them the first time. Idk why… I was serious! 
Luckily we all end up getting along and working out together every day which forced them to be friends with me. 
After a couple of months of trying to get Mr. Ponytail-muscles to get the hint, he just wasn’t. Which by the way made my coworkers at 24-hour fitness tired of me asking them if this guy possibly liked me back.

 No, I’m not embarrassed. When someone knows what they want they should go for it. 
So, if you’re still reading this: this is your sign to do the thing you’ve always wanted to do. Take that vacation, if you love someone let them know, get drunk tonight! 
I say that because just as I was giving up and letting my other bad influence friends waste my time, John Samorano: (who happens to be Mr. Ponytail muscles of course!) saves me. He starts to respond. No like actually respond. He responds to my Instagram stories, to my hints, and he even responds to the idea of spending more time together outside of the gym.

Miracle! Oddly, my favorite song at the time was Miracle by Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding. 
We start hanging out as a group of friends, and eventually he joins me just by himself at La Cabaña (a Mexican restaurant down the street)
Even though he had already eaten dinner he meets me there and orders a very masculine drink. A beer. 
Although now I know he enjoys yummy cocktails like me I still have a lot of respect for that beer. The 
Liquid courage that made him finally ask for my number. 
He claimed he was only asking because He wanted to teach me how to play chess on iPhone games, and yes I’ve always wanted to learn how to play chess. Or at least that’s what I told him and why to this day I don’t know how to play, but I do have a fiancé.
As we get to know each other he asks me to be his Valentine, that day he brings a big flower arrangement of red roses, the very first of many. Each month without fail, he continues to make me feel beautiful with unique flower arrangements.


Things seemed too good to be true, as he invited me to meet his family very soon. The first few weeks. No one had ever done that, I was very impressed and even started thinking it was probably a trap bc his family ended up being amazing and I fell in love. (with his family first, ironically) 
Meeting his friendly and welcoming family right away made me trust that John was an honest guy I could take a chance on. 
I am really glad I did because exactly 3 years after meeting, we are getting married.
I hope you’ll be there to see what happens next on Friday, November 14, 2025.
The ceremony starts at 2 pm.
Reception starts at 5 pm.
Don’t be late! We are eager to celebrate our special day with you all.