Rehearsal at Cristo Rey followed by dinner 

County Line (be careful because there are two) 

Cristo Rey Catholic Church

Wedding Day

St. Margaret Mary

Holy Hour

Ceremony

Austin Event Center

Reception

Adoration Chapel

Our Wedding

An Answered Prayer

The use of technology aka social media and anything related is not Sandra's strong point. Mario on the other hand is resourceful except for sending out wedding invitations. In our search to find someone with the same kind of values, faith, and principles, we signed up for Catholic Match. It all started with Sandra clicking a heart symbol on Mario's picture of his dog Leia Lisa on his profile. Sandra did not realize that liking a picture was not like Facebook on Catholic Match, rather Sandra's liked Mario's entire profile. Unbeknownst to Sandra her actions triggered the unexpected but enthusiastic response from Mario to take the initiative and start a conversation.

Video chats allowed Mario to teach Sandra how to play the guitar. As their connection deepened, Mario drove all the way to Austin with two friends that will be at the wedding ready for autographs. Another friend actually canceled at the last minute forever missing out on one of the most epic events in human history.

THE BEGINNINGS 

To Mario's surprise, Sandra invited him to the great state of California that summer in 2022. This trip would be a turning point where Mario fell for Sandra deeply, but she was not quite there yet. Sandra knew she was in love but was scared. However, their bond continued to grow, blossoming into a love that surpassed anything either one had ever known.

California Love

Sandra decided to visit the Big Easy a month later where she realized that New Orleans was not that bad. To Sandra's surprise, Mario asked her out by giving her a rock which was the best gift Sandra had ever received. They became official on August 27, 2022. Since then, milestones kept coming: Mario got his Texas bar license in December, followed by his move to Austin in February 2023. One beautiful raining April day, Mario popped the question in front of St Margaret Mary, the very church consecrated by Archbishop Gregory Michael Aymond, now the New Orleans Archbishop. The ring did not fit perfectly, and Sandra, yearning for a truly magical moment, kept the proposal a secret from most, except for a few lucky souls. Mario, determined to get it right, surprised Sandra again on May 12th, 2024, with a magical proposal in Cristo Rey chapel. It was a moment that left her speechless (for a second time but with enough speech to say yes again!). This time it fit.

The Ask, the Bar Card, and the Big Question

One time Mario and Sandra almost died while camping in the dangerous Texas terrain. Fire ants almost ended them when God stepped in and saved them. But through thick and thin, their love has only grown stronger. They've traveled the world together, spoiling Leia Lisa the rescue who sometimes forgets her humble beginnings and acts like a high-class purebred. Sandra even achieved a major step towards her dream career by becoming a correctional officer. Mario and Sandra's story is a testament to faith taking a wrong click and turning it into a love story for the ages. It has not always been easy to bridge two cultures, two ways of life, two worlds, but with their shared faith, unwavering support from their creator, and a touch of affection from Leia Lisa, their future together promises to be filled with laughter, love, and maybe a few more near-death camping experiences because Sandra refuses to stop camping.

The Adventures Continue

Our Story

Photos

Michelle Venegas

Cristian Zavala

Beto Hernandez

Jorge Rodriguez 

Giancarlo Rodriguez 

Ricky Martinez 

Hugo Landaverde

Noel Martinez

Nayameli Martinez

Constantino Castillo

Gabriela Pimentel

Mario Zavala

Dina Zavala

Dulce Medina

Alondra de Leon

Martha Castillo

Emma Cabrera

Elizabeth Castillo

Wedding Party

Q + A

Located approximately 9 minutes/4 miles from the reception and 15 minutes/6 miles from Cristo Rey. If you have any questions about this option, please call Tami Thomas at the Courtyard: cell - 512-924-7769 or phone - 512-276-5920 Book your group rate for Zavala &amp; Castillo WeddingYou will find the information for your online reservation link below. If you have questions or need help with the link, please do not hesitate to ask. We appreciate your business and look forward to a successful event. Event Summary: Zavala &amp; Castillo WeddingStart Date: Wednesday, July 31, 2024End Date: Sunday, August 4, 2024Last Day to Book: Wednesday, July 17, 2024 https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1710263211004&amp;key=GRP&amp;app=resvlink Hotel(s) offering your special group rate:Courtyard Austin-University Area for 121 USD per nightBook your group rate for Zavala &amp; Castillo Wedding

Courtyard by Marriott Austin-University Area

Travel

Things To Do In Austin

Texas Capitol

LBJ Presidential Library

Mount Bonnell

We recommend watching the sunset. It’s gorgeous there. Make sure to get there before the sunset.

The Oasis On Lake Travis

Broken Spoke

Niall Horan - 7:30 PM, Saturday, August 3, 2024 https://moodycenteratx.com/event/niall-horan/

Moody Center

ACL LIVE &amp; C3 PRESENTO.A.R.SUMMER TOUR 24Fitz and The Tantrums https://www.acllive.com/event/2024-08-04-o-a-r-at-7-pm SUNDAY,&nbsp;AUGUST&nbsp;4&nbsp;7:00PM $49-95

ACL Live at The Moody Theater

Historic 6th Street Mural

Lady Bird Lake Town Lake

The Domain

MUSEUM OF ICE CREAM

Pennybacker Bridge Overlook

Austin is very dog friendly.  Of course not to the wedding.


https://www.austintexas.org/austin-insider-blog/post/pet-friendly-weekend/ 


https://austin.eater.com/maps/best-dog-friendly-austin-restaurants-bars


https://store.titosvodka.com/collections/dogs


https://beyondthedogtraining.com/austin-dog-friendly-guide/exploring-the-domain-dog-friendly-edition/


https://www.bringfido.com/attraction/11284

Sandra & Mario

Sandra & Mario

S&M

Wedding Day

7:00 AM–8:00 AM

Holy Hour

3:30 PM–5:00 PM

Ceremony

6:00 PM–10:00 PM

Reception

9:00 AM–9:00 PM

Adoration Chapel