Our Rehearsal Dinner

Our Wedding Day

St Christopher Catholic Church

Ceremony

The Grand Event Center

Reception

Our Wedding

Maria and Ansel met in February 2020, and thank goodness they met when they did! Maria was attending her first Young Catholic Professionals event and did not know anybody there. She and Ansel began talking during a break, and they quickly discovered that they had a lot in common, including a shared faith, love for running, and careers in the medical field. They saw each other at a few other church events in the coming weeks, right before everything closed due to COVID. Maria and Ansel continued to make efforts to see each other, and it was a summer filled with game nights, home cooked dinners, and outdoor activities. On June 20th, 2020, Ansel planned an epic date and birthday present for Maria. They went to a "secret garden" that is only open to the public a few weekends in June, stopped for Whit's frozen custard, attended Saturday evening mass, ate at one of Maria's favorite restaurants (Local Roots), and then had birthday cake for dessert (made by Ansel!). Maria and Ansel consider this the day they officially started dating. Maria and Ansel have been busy over the years; Ansel completed his PhD and medical school and moved to Houston, TX for his residency. Maria stayed back in Ohio, completing the nurse practitioner program at OSU. She just moved to Houston in August 2025, and they are thrilled that the 2 years of long distance is over. Ansel proposed on May 3rd, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio. His parents and Maria's parents were in town to celebrate her graduation. He suggested they go for a walk together, even though it was raining (pouring at times, actually). Luckily, Maria loves walking, no matter the weather. He proposed near a waterfall at Quarry Trails metropark. Little did Maria know, the reason he chose to propose that morning despite the rain was because he had a surprise party planned at their friends' house where many of their friends and family were there waiting! Maria and Ansel are very excited to come back to Columbus for their wedding. Columbus is where they got to know each other and fell in love; it always feels like home.

Our Love Story

Our Story

Engagement Photos

Taken by Laura and Matthew Photography along the Scioto Mile in Columbus, Ohio

Running Photos

Ansel and Maria both love running, and competing in races is one of their favorite things to do together. Here are a few of their favorite half and full marathons they have completed over the years!

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfector of faith.-Hebrews 12:1-2

Photos

Cheers to these friends who we have chosen to be in our wedding party, knowing they will not only walk down the aisle with us but would be there to support us through anything

"I've got friends that will run through wallsI've got friends that will fly once calledWhen I've nowhere left to goAnd I need my heroesI've got friends that will run through walls"-Run Through Walls by the Script

Maria's Bridesmaids

Maria met Jackie and Elisabeth at the end of February 2020, at a "Fat Tuesday" event at St. Christopher. Ansel was good friends with Jackie and Elisabeth at the time, so she saw them frequently at game nights, cookouts and outdoor activities in the summer of 2020.  Maria quickly became close friends with both of them at the same time she was falling in love with Ansel. Maria, Jackie and Elisabeth value deep connections and conversations, and love grabbing coffee and going for long walks together.

Jackie (left) and Elisabeth (middle), Mother of the Bride also pictured!

Maria, Anna, and Krista met at Wright State University, all completing the nursing program there from 2015 to 2018. Going through something challenging like nursing school together certainly builds strong friendships. Anna, Krista, and Maria have been intentional about getting together to catch up, despite Anna living in the Dayton area and Krista living in the Columbus area, both with multiple young children! Their favorite place to meet up while Maria lived in Columbus was a Mexican restaurant in Springfield, Ohio, a centrally located meeting place for the three of them. 

Krista (left) and Anna (middle)

Mindy is Maria's sister-in-law. Mindy moved to the United States from South Korea after she married Maria's older brother, Alex. Mindy and Alex met while they were both studying abroad in China! Mindy is also the mother of Maria's nephew Teddy, who will be helping with the rings and flower petals at the wedding ceremony. Mindy is a great source of wisdom for Maria, especially when it comes to long distance relationships and what it will be like to be a mother someday. She is one of the most kind and courageous women that Maria knows. 

Mindy (left), Mother of the Bride also pictured!

The Eminent Entourage of Extraordinary Excellency (Ansel's Groomsmen)

The enduring best friendship of Ansel and Eli owes its genesis to the Office of Admissions at the University of Notre Dame, who randomly assigned them to be freshman roommates in Keenan Hall room 239. When they both unpacked a Rubik's Cube and a ping pong paddle from their boxes, it was clear that they were meant to be friends. Despite their opposite approaches to the ideal level of dorm room organization and willingness to stay up all night, they somehow decided to be roommates again the following year. Their ongoing friendship was forged through countless memories from their time at Notre Dame: competing in interhall sports, playing board games, cheering on ND sports, and enjoying road trips. Ansel and Eli have been fortunate to maintain a strong friendship since graduating from college. Long before Ansel knew who his wife would be, he already knew that Eli would be his best man, a testament to their shared values, common sense of humor, and their continued commitment to be there for each other through the years. Ansel and Eli continue to brainstorm ideas for writing their planned sitcom, which will be based on their experiences and wisdom.

Eli Langson

Ansel and Zach are co-founders of the A to Z Track Invitational, which for 3 years of its existence, was described by some as the "premier running competition of North America." Before becoming friends through their St. Chris church group, Ansel and Zach unknowingly lived down the street from each other during Zach's senior year at Ohio State and Ansel's first year of medical school. During that year, they probably ran by each other without realizing it, and years later, they were fortunate to run hundreds of miles side-by-side. Ansel and Zach have played golf together, run a marathon together, and played numerous strategy board games together with friends. Zach remains the undefeated ping pong champion. The closest Ansel was to almost winning a game was taking a 18-13 lead before losing the next 8 points in a row.

Zach Pollock, IRONMAN

Ansel and Nevin were roommates for two years in medical school, beginning an ongoing and lasting saga of following every major sporting event together since 2014. Nevin is responsible for teaching Ansel the comprehensive rules of cricket, which was accomplished during an overnight viewing of India vs Pakistan. Ansel and Nevin each have a life goal to visit every Major League Baseball stadium, of which Nevin currently maintains a 17 to 11 lead. They celebrated the year 2020 by, appropriately, playing repeated rounds of the cooperative board game Pandemic. Their 7-game win streak on the hardest difficulty level, an accomplishment worthy of comparison to DiMaggio's hit streak, and a feat unlikely to ever be matched. Ansel and Nevin remained close friends through the entirety of their collective time in Ohio, despite now living in different states for medical training. Their ongoing discussions include following financial markets and investment opportunities. If they start their own venture capital firm one day, it will certainly have a sports pun-related name.

Nevin Britto

Ansel and Sankalp are graduates of the MD/PhD program at Ohio State. In pursuing their double doctoral degrees, they spent many hours commiserating over unsuccessful experiments in the lab, but found equal joy in celebrating each other's research accomplishments. They are proud to have helped each other through the challenges of their medical training and continue to offer advice and guidance for their clinical and research careers. While attempting to solve the unanswered questions in the fields of immunology and microbiology, they also found time to play chess, board games, ping pong, and tennis. In addition to their academic accomplishments, their greatest contribution to the MD/PhD program was memorizing and performing Abbott and Costello's "Who's On First" routine at the program talent show. An encore performance is available (appearance fees required), and it is good to know they have lucrative careers in sketch comedy after they retire from medicine.

Sankalp Malhotra

Ansel and Michael were roommates for a year during medical school, spending many days together watching football, hitting the gym, and playing board games. Both proud Notre Dame graduates, Ansel and Michael may have unknowingly crossed paths during the two years they were at Notre Dame together. Michael remains the foremost enthusiast of Notre Dame football, and Ansel relies on Michael's expertise for the newfound (and at times, short-lived) optimism at the start of every season. Michael and Ansel (and Nevin) have maintained a strong friendship and accompanying group chat that resurfaces with each yearly tennis slam, Olympics, college football season, World Series, and a number of other sporting events. In addition to their shared appreciation for all things Notre Dame and sports, Michael and Ansel were involved in the St. Chris Young Professionals and the Catholic Medical Association while living in Columbus, a testament to their faith and values. Michael and Ansel also led their bar trivia team to multiple podium finishes, including a well-fought tiebreaker victory in March 2018.

Michael D'Netto

Wedding Party

General Q&A

Please check back closer to our wedding date for more answers to some commonly asked questions. In the meantime, check out the Travel tab for Q&A about the hotels.

Q + A

Nearby Hotels

This hotel is connected to the reception venue! To book, click the website link below.

Courtyard Columbus OSU

This hotel is across the street from the reception venue!To book, click the website link below.

Hyatt Place Columbus/OSU

Hotel Q&A

Travel

St. Christopher Catholic Church and The Grand Event Center are located in Grandview Heights, Ohio. Grandview Heights is a neighborhood/suburb of Columbus, Ohio

Maria lived in Grandview Heights for 6.5 years before moving to Houston, Texas to be with Ansel. Grandview Heights is a beautiful, walkable neighborhood in Columbus that Ansel and Maria both love. They are excited that their family and friends will get to experience it too! See below for some of our favorite places nearby.

This coffee shop would be a great place to grab breakfast or hang out in between the ceremony and reception. It is just down the road from St. Chris. This was Maria, Jackie (Matron of Honor) and Elisabeth's (Maid of Honor) favorite place to grab coffee before their long walks through the neighborhood.Some other nearby breakfast options include Delaney's Diner, Basic Biscuits, Kindness, Coffee, and Brekkie Shack. Many of the restaurants in Grandview Heights also serve brunch on weekends, including but not limited to Grandview Cafe, Third and Hollywood, and Highbank Distillery.

Stauf's Coffee Roasters

Need lunch or a snack before or after the wedding ceremony? Local Cantina is across the street from St. Chris and is Maria and Ansel's favorite taco restaurant in Columbus!Barrio Tacos and Agave &amp; Rye are two other taco restaurants that are along Grandview Ave. If you try all three, let us know your favorite - but it is important to note that only Local Cantina has free chips and salsa...Habanero's Fresh Mexican Grill is another taco place that is down the street from the hotels and reception venue, on Yard St.

Local Cantina - Grandview

There are countless delicious restaurants in Grandview Heights, but this is one of Maria's top 5 favorite restaurants in Columbus. If you want to grab a drink, this would be a great choice. It is a short walk down the road from the hotels and reception venue.Some other places for drinks include Knotty Pine Brewery, Grandview Vinoteca, and Barrel &amp; Taps.Some other delicious restaurants that Maria can vouch for include Grandview Cafe, Third and Hollywood and Figlio.

High Bank Distillery Co

The closest restaurant to the reception venue is Hofbrauhaus, and would be a great place to go for a fun time while having a beer or a German meal. Excellent for large groups!

Hofbräuhaus Columbus

Ansel and Maria have not been to this restaurant, but it was recommended by the venue event coordinator as a good place to go for an afterparty after the reception. It is right across the street from the Courtyard Marriot and the venue, and is right next to the Hyatt Place.

Pastimes Pub at Grandview Yard

This fun hangout spot is in a different area of Grandview Heights, but it would be another great place to grab a quick meal or drinks. It opened in 2024, and Maria took every excuse she had to go with friends before she moved to Houston. There are multiple delicious food vendors (Ansel and Maria's favorite is Just Chicken!) with a large amount of indoor and outdoor seating.

The Little Grand Market

It is hard to take a trip Columbus without going to this ice cream shop, because Columbus is where Jeni's originated! It is located just down the road from St. Chris.If you are walking to Jeni's from St. Chris for a treat after the ceremony, you will walk right by Johnson's Real Ice Cream shop so you may as well stop there too. If you also go to Toft's Grand Scoop and Dairy Queen while in the neighborhood, we'd love to know your favorite! The best ice cream in Columbus is a topic of great debate.

Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams

Not in the mood for ice cream? (Wait, is that even possible?)Lion's Cub Cookies is right next to Stauf's and Jeni's, and they are Maria's favorite cookies. If you like warm, extra gooey, soft cookies, you won't be disappointed!

Lion Cub's Cookies- Grandview

Grandview Heights has a few small parks along Goodale Boulevard, down the road from the reception venue. Maria used to walk laps in Wyman Woods because she could walk there from her condo! C. Ray Buck Park is close to Wyman Woods and also has a walking loop.

Wyman Woods Park

Although not technically in Grandview Heights, this is the nearby metropark where Ansel proposed to Maria. Let us know how the waterfall looks when you go - it was impressive the day we got engaged, thanks to the pouring rain all morning.

Quarry Trails Metro Park

Maria and Ansel have run hundreds of miles on the Olentangy Trail. If you are into running or biking, it is easy to get to from the hotels. You go east on Goodale Boulevard, and will reach the intersection of Goodale Boulevard and Olentangy River Road. Cross Olentangy River Road, and continue east over the bridge. The trail will be on the left towards the end of the bridge. We recommend you go north on the trail.

The Olentangy Trail

Have a free night while you are in town? This movie theater right along Grandview Ave is celebrating 100 years in 2026! There is a small restaurant inside with pizza and beer as well.

Maria & Ansel

Maria & Ansel

Travel

Nearby Hotels

Courtyard Columbus OSU

Hyatt Place Columbus/OSU

Hotel Q&A

How soon should I book my room?

What if there are no more rooms available in the block?

What if I only want to stay one night rather than both Friday and Saturday night?

Do the hotels have free breakfast?

Can I use points to book my room?

How far of a walk is the Hyatt Place from the reception venue?