The first time they met: We met when Melissa started working at Zales in October 2014. Rey was in the store when she walked in for her interview and started asking her questions about her background and past working experience. Melissa ended up walking into the interview more nervous than before!


How it all began: After she was hired we began to get to know each other better and throughout the years became best friends. In 2016 they started to joke around and without realizing it slowly fell for each other. On January 22nd, Rey bought himself a diamond band at Zales for his birthday, Melissa kept questioning where her ring was! He grabbed the nearest ring to him (a yellow plastic butterfly ring that she still has to this day) and gave it to her. Melissa always wanted to go to Belize and mentioned it so much that Rey decided to take a trip in May with his parents to Belize. It all started with this trip when Rey sought out souvenirs to bring back for his co workers. He found the perfect gift to bring back for Melissa. A Mayan calendar opal pendant. The gentleman who sold it to him told him, “Your girlfriend is going to love it.” Rey laughed it off because we were not together yet. When he brought back little coin purses for everyone else at the store and a necklace for her, Melissa began to question that we might have something between us. Our joking around and communication only got stronger from there. We always used to joke around about where “our ring was” while working at the jewelry store. Rey even had Melissa try on an engagement ring “just to model it for him.” The ring was an emerald cut Celebration diamond, Melissa didn’t like it at first but when she tried it on and Rey grabbed her hand to look at the ring closer she felt so many butterflies, what wasn’t to love?


The first date: Melissa always used to ask Rey to come out with her and friends but he never wanted to socialize with co workers outside work. One night, Rey finally broke down and asked her to come out after work. They talked all night and had so much fun they decided to go out again on the weekend. It was with the gift of a yellow orchid from Rey to Melissa that their co workers began to question them and their connection grew even stronger.


It was all a whirlwind from there! They were blessed enough to share many vacations together from Puerto Rico to Dominican Republic to Vermont to New Hampshire and all the way Mexico. Their experiences together have made them into a strong couple who have faced everything together throughout the past 4 years.


The proposal: It happened two years ago on June 17th in Dominican Republic. When a mix of “Te Robaré” and “Don’t Matter” was playing, Rey surprised Melissa by asking her to marry him with the very same ring that they tried on all those years ago at Zales. Melissa accepted and couldn’t believe that it was really happening. The two of us couldn’t wait to share what happened with all our family and friends. We’re very excited to be able to share this moment with family and friends and celebrate love as a family!
We’ll see you on 9.26.20 at the wedding! If you can’t make it we look forward to sharing this moment with you via livestream!
With love,
Melissa and Rey