Mary and Raphael’s story begins a very long 2 years ago. Mary was embarking on an exciting new career path as a pilot at the flight school Raphael happened to be an instructor at (scandalous!). They met a couple of times throughout the office on random days but didn’t get to talk until their first flight together. There was an undeniable connection that neither of them could ignore from the very first flight. In the interest of keeping their relationship professional, Raphael kept a respectable distance (even though all he wanted was to ask her out). After a few short months, Mary asked him to hang out outside of the school environment. Finally! The opportunity he was waiting for!

Needless to say, the first date went great. They began dating a short month after the first date. Their love continued to grow at a quick rate that surprised both of them. They often found themselves asking one another, “why does this feel so natural?” and “this seems fast but in no way does it feel rushed”. In June of 2021, Raphael knew without a doubt that this was the woman he was going to spend the rest of his life with. So, he decided to meet with Mary’s parents, Lizz and Willie Walters, to ask for their blessing to marry their daughter. He was met with excitement and celebration as they were thrilled to hear the news.

Raphael was now prepped with her parent’s blessing and all the eagerness in the world. The only problem was that he did not have a ring; therefore, he chose to improvise. He decided to use a piece of string that he found in their apartment and crossed his fingers she would accept this gesture as genuine and cute. She loved it (phew! *wipes forehead sweat*).

The rest of the relationship up until now has been a constant story of growth and love. There have been many challenges along the way, but no matter what they have encountered, it has always been met with love, compassion, and understanding. The kind of stuff you read about in books, or in this case a story on their website. Join us in sending them off on their next adventure as husband and wife.