Marta Aparicio and Jose Perez first met during the summer of 2007 at the Upward Bound Program. Though they saw each other in high school during Marta's ninth grade, they didn’t speak until they were introduced while living in the same dorm during the program. A week into the program, their paths crossed on the stairs, and a mutual friend introduced them. As the school year began, Jose would walk Marta to her classes and watch all her soccer games. On October 17, 2007, while walking to Kennedy Plaza, Jose asked Marta out, and their love story began.

Their love story was featured in their high school’s newsletter for Valentine’s Day, capturing the hearts of their classmates.

Photos from Jose and Marta’s high school prom in 2009 and 2010 capture the joy and excitement of their teenage years.

After six years of dating, including three years of long-distance, Jose and Marta decided to go their separate ways to focus on personal and professional growth. Jose moved to Denver, Colorado, and Marta to Miami, Florida.

The COVID-19 pandemic and social media helped them reconnect after eight years. When they finally saw each other again, it felt as though no time had passed—they had even more in common than before. Despite the uncertainty of the future, with Marta moving to Laos in the summer and Jose still in Denver, they promised to keep in touch.

They took their first overseas trip together, meeting in Dubai to celebrate Marta’s birthday. For one week, they explored the city, met up with friends, laughed, and created unforgettable memories. This trip marked the beginning of their shared adventures around the world.

Jose and Marta embarked on a month-long journey across Europe, visiting eight countries and 16 cities. Marta introduced Jose to some of her favorite places, and together they discovered new ones. This trip convinced Marta that they were meant to explore the world together, continuing to create memories.

After months of discussing their future, Jose took a leap of faith and moved to Laos to join Marta for the last six months of her tour. They saw this as a test to see if Jose was ready to join Marta on her diplomatic journey.

During Jose’s time in Southeast Asia, they traveled to six countries, sampling new cuisines, learning about diverse cultures, and navigating challenging environments together.

Jose surprised Marta with a proposal at the Washington Monument, in the city that had changed her life since 2010. Despite the scorching heat and Marta’s initial reluctance to go, she was left speechless when Jose went down on one knee in her favorite city, where they had created so many memories together.

Jose joined Marta full-time for her second diplomatic tour in Honduras. As they embark on their diplomatic journey together, they’re excited about the challenges and adventures that lie ahead. #DiploCouple

Jose and Marta are thrilled to celebrate their big wedding day with friends and family in Marta’s birthplace, Guatemala.