Online dating is the new norm, and it seemed like David and Maria’s story might unfold like many others: meet online, talk for a while, date, and eventually get married. But theirs wasn’t linear — and that’s what made it special, unique, and meant to last forever.

There was nothing awkward about meeting this stranger.

They met at a cute little spot in Raleigh called Tupelo Honey. David will tell you that from the second he met her, she had a glow about her — her smile, her eyes, her demeanor, and her willingness to open up. Maria was instantly drawn to David’s outgoing kindness and his ability to put her mind at ease with his charm and charisma during their effortless conversation.

They spent the morning getting to know each other over breakfast. Usually, a first date ends there — you grab coffee, hit it off, and follow up later that day or the next with, “I had a good time; I’d like to see you again.” But after just a few hours, David wasn’t ready to let Maria out of his sight. The day was still young, and he wanted to be in her presence. She was beautiful, and he was set on getting to know her inside and out before their day together was over.

If you know David, you know he loves his sports and is as competitive as anyone out there — and it’s important to him that the woman he’s with can keep up. So, justifiably, David put Maria to the test right off the bat and took her to the local arcade. She showed him her jump shot at Pop-A-Shot, competed at skee-ball, and duked it out in air hockey. Not to mention, David threw her to the wolves by introducing her to his roommate and best friend from college — he needed to make sure she could socialize and get along with the people he cared about.

Where others might have folded or passed on attending because they wanted one-on-one time, Maria came and bet on herself — and she aced the test. She beat David in Pop-A-Shot, put up a fight in the other games, and even invited one of her own friends to join them. The interactions were everything David hoped for in someone he was seeking. While people-watching and sharing a few drinks, she melted in his arms, fitting like a glove in his embrace — just as you’d expect in any fairytale beginning.

They say you fall in love twice with someone: once when you first meet them, and again when times get difficult. After their incredible first date, there was a short period when David and Maria didn’t see each other. David was unsure of what he wanted at the time, but he couldn’t get Maria off his mind. A few months later, he reached out and rekindled a connection he simply couldn’t forget. They eased back into the classic millennial talking stage until David invited her to Hilton Head for New Year’s.

Maria showed her admiration by making the 4.5-hour trip on her own to celebrate and spend time with him. A month later, they road-tripped and braved the January elements for a hike and camping trip in Western NC. Little did they know they would trek over 16 miles and camp in below-freezing temperatures on their first outdoor adventure together. It was then that David knew this beautiful woman would go to the ends of the earth with him and for him. He didn’t want to be with anyone else, officially asking her to be his girlfriend.

Since then, David and Maria have created countless memories together. They’ve been blessed to enjoy springs attending golf tournaments in Hilton Head and strolling through Duke University Gardens; summers in Door County and celebrating beautiful weddings in Florida, New York, and North Carolina; falls sightseeing and playing golf in the mountains of Western NC; winters enjoying time together in their home city of Raleigh. These are just a few examples of the blessings that have brought them closer — moments where they continually bring out the best in each other.

To say they are deeply in love would be putting it mildly. In David’s eyes, Maria is fearless, ambitious, and has the biggest heart he knows. There were so many moments in their relationship where mistakes were made — moments that might have caused anyone else to walk away — but Maria fought for them every time. Her perseverance in his darkest hours drove him to be better and to love her better. He will tell you she is his example of unconditional love.

And in May 2025, when he asked her to be his wife, he promised to love her unconditionally forever and ever.

It has been a blessing for David to get to know Maria and her family, just as it has been for Maria to know David’s. They can’t wait to spend the rest of their lives together, building a loving and caring family modeled after the beautiful blueprint their parents provided.