On their wedding day, Michael and Miranda, along with their loved ones, will celebrate nearly a decade of love. Both of them raised in Miami, Florida by amazing, loving parents with excellent values and traditions they carry with them today.

It was the end of Spring semester in 2016 and final exams were in full swing. Miranda was living in Orlando while attending UCF and Michael was living in Miami and had just graduated from FIU. One text message to check in led to long phone calls until the sun came up. It is safe to say they have not gone a day without speaking since then. As their relationship flourished, many challenges came: long-distance, moving in together, living apart, opposite work schedules. Like life, challenges just made them stronger and absolutely certain they wanted to tackle life hand in hand.

The day Michael proposed, was a beautiful south Florida Saturday. They were finally going to spend a much awaited day down in The Keys together after pushing it off for a couple weeks. Michael had planned the whole day, all Miranda knew to do was to bring a change of clothes for dinner. They went to Wahoo’s, enjoyed a cocktail and the perfect conch fritters before heading to Theatre of the Sea. They were able to walk through the flower garden and catch the sea lion and the dolphin shows. Dinner reservations were looming near, Michael and Miranda rushed to freshen up and make it to a favorite spot of theirs, Mile Marker 88 Restaurant. At this point, Miranda is so busy enjoying the activities and keeping up with the day that she is still clueless as to what is coming. Michael, on the other hand, is nervous about timing, since there is a photographer waiting at the next location after dinner. After some delicious seafood and live music by the water, Michael lets Miranda know there is just one more spot they have to get to. They make their way to Founder’s Park, Miranda wondering how this day could possibly get any better, and Michael profusely sweating and very lost within the park. They park, pass by this beach area where families are laughing and playing, and walk through this beautiful path lined tall and wide with greenery and flowers. Where they emerge on the other end, is the most breathtaking view of the approaching sunset over the water. Believe it or not, Miranda still has no idea what Michael has planned. They walk down the small path, and stop at what seemed like the most gorgeous place in the whole world. Time stopped there. Michael starts to tell Miranda about their story and how everything they had been through had brought them to this moment. A woman walks by with her small dog and of course, Miranda cannot help but take notice. Michael brings her attention back to him and that is when she realizes he is on one knee, the physical embodiment of her dreams coming true. He finished his beautifully perfect words with “will you marry me?” and Miranda is overwhelmed with joy, shock, and pure bliss before saying absolutely YES. The photographer captured the moment perfectly, there is even one that shows the dog that walked by as Michael was kneeling down, much to his dismay. We have included it below for some comedic relief. The most perfect day spent together, truly enjoying each other's company.

They rode off into the sunset back towards home, both still shaking and eyes full of tears. On the way home, they took a second to soak in each other before calling loved ones, “Let’s celebrate just us closer to home” said Miranda. Michael replies “Yes! Let’s do it! But let’s pass by your mom’s on the way home just so she can see the ring, she’s been waiting so long for this!”. Miranda, still in a loving daze, slightly confused but agreed. When they arrived at her mom’s house, the driveway was full of cars, not an abnormal finding. Miranda sees this and says, “Maybe we should just go, she has people over, we don’t want to interrupt”. Michael leads her inside where they find a big “SURPRISE!!!”, both families dressed up and excited to congratulate the couple. Miranda’s smile, now permanently etched on her face, was shining the rest of the night. Michael had pulled off the most thoughtful and romantic day they had ever had together in 7 years.

On their wedding day, Michael and Miranda are excited to host their family and friends from far and wide, including New York, Georgia, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and more. As a unit, family and values are daily topics of conversation, almost at the forefront of their relationship. As they talk about starting a family of their own, having such amazing, responsible, and loving family to look up to makes it easy to fathom. Michael and Miranda look forward to celebrating this epic moment alongside those who have helped shape them and wish them nothing but the best. Cheers to a lifetime of love and laughter!