Reunion Picnic

Sacred Heart Church

Wedding Day

Wedding

Corona Ranch and Rodeo Grounds

Reception

Our Wedding

The first time I laid eyes on Viviana, I was simply starstruck. I literally felt like I had just caught a glimpse of a shooting nebula. It was freshman year at Yale University, in late September 2014, and all I had done was catch a mere glance of her from across a giant lawn of grass at the La Casa Latinx Retreat.&nbsp;A mere glance was all that I needed to set my heart ablaze. She was so beautiful!!!I couldn’t discern the color of her eyes from 100 yards away, but I could tell that they were electric and full of life. I honestly couldn’t look away, so I spent the rest of that rainy day secretly admiring her. I was way too shy, so I never even found out what her name was.&nbsp;Flash forward to a year later, September 2015. Viviana, now a dashing sophomore at Yale, is grabbing some catered Mexican food for a La Casa community event when she looks up and randomly locks eyes with this mysterious Mexican guy, who happens to be me. She feels a spark.&nbsp;A week later, I show up to one of Viviana’s MEChA (a Latino community service and activism organization) meetings, and the sparks continue to fly. We quickly develop a friendship, filled with laughter, subtle flirting, and endless conversation. So much conversation, in fact, that every single meal we shared throughout the years would end in us being kicked out of the dining hall after closing time!&nbsp;That spring of 2016, I joined Conexiones, a MEChA mentorship program that Viviana co-founded. We started spending our Saturdays together at La Casa mentoring New Haven Latino high school students. Viviana later told me that this is where her feelings for me really started to blossom.&nbsp;Years pass by with neither of us saying anything, and before we know it, our Yale graduation is around the corner. As our graduation approaches, we both start to feel nostalgic, regretting all the things we never said and never did.&nbsp;On May 3, 2018, we attend the farewell senior dinner put on by Benjamin Franklin College, our dorm/residential college at Yale. We talk throughout the dinner, and plan a small get-together with friends at Viviana’s dorm.&nbsp;That evening, I show up to Viviana’s dorm and find out that she is the ONLY one there. I sit on the couch and make small talk. After 30 minutes, we realize no one else is coming because “they’re too busy.” It’s just us, on an accidental date two weeks before we graduate college and go our separate ways.&nbsp;We spend the next three hours just chatting away, laughing and having a really good time. My heart is beating right out of my chest the whole time, and I realize that I don’t want to graduate Yale without having at least told her about my feelings for her! Finally, I decide to confess – I can’t keep my crush on her a secret any longer. I tell her, and she stays quiet, then changes the subject&hellip;&nbsp;&hellip;I start feeling weird, thinking that I just made this beautiful night awkward with my confession. I get up and decide to leave – it’s already 3 AM anyways. But before I can walk out the door, Viviana grabs my arm and says, “Well, you’re not the only one who has felt that way for the past three years.” I’m SHOCKED.&nbsp;Before we know it, we pull an all-nighter. We stroll around campus enjoying the sunrise, the sights, and each other. Just as the flowers and trees bloomed that fateful Spring morning, so did our love.&nbsp; &nbsp;Three weeks later, and just one week after our graduation, we’re sitting in an AirBnB on the other side of the country, in Phoenix, Arizona. I hand Viviana a small letter, at the end of which are five simple words: “Will you be my girlfriend?"&nbsp;That day, May 28, 2018, marks the official start of the most beautiful romantic relationship we’ve ever experienced. Over the ensuing months, I have found that Viviana is perfect for me in every way possible, and Viviana has found that I’m perfectly imperfect for her in every way possible. Life is just better with each other. Even a simple walk in the park is splendid when we’re by each other’s side. From the beginning of our friendship, we were special to each other. From the beginning of our relationship, it was clear that she was the one for me and I was the one for her.&nbsp;It was this knowledge that led me, on Sunday, May 19, 2019, to drop on one knee at the top of South Mountain in Phoenix, Arizona, and say five simple words: “Will you be my wife?”&nbsp;&nbsp;And, because of this, on Saturday, February 22, 2020, Viviana and I will marry each other before the eyes of God and two will become one.

Love is a Wonderful Thing...

Our Story

Details

Sierra is my best friend and my college roommate of four years. She always brings&nbsp;wonderful conversations and insight into my life.&nbsp;I was her maid of honor and am so excited she will be by my side at my wedding like I was at hers!&nbsp;

Sierra White

Sarah is also my best friend from college and my suite mate for four years! She always brings&nbsp;laughter and excitement into my life.&nbsp;I'm so excited to have her be a part of this!

Sarah Oyadomari

My older brother will be my best man! Love you bro!

Jose Avina

Vicky is my closest cousin&nbsp;and we've grown up together like sisters. We have always been best friends (as the pictures from 1996 will show). I&nbsp;love her so much and couldn't imagine having anyone else as my maid of honor.

Vicky Ocampo

Vale is my little sister. I couldn't imagine a better sister. She is caring, vivacious, and like a partner-in-crime to me. I'm so excited to have her be a part of my wedding!

Valeria Arroyo

Isaias Rodriguez

The homie that helped me get through Yale :)

Christopher Vargas

Luca is one of my closest friends and one of my college suitemates for four years. She always brings compassion and understanding into my life,&nbsp;and I'm so happy to have her by my side!

Luca Eros

Ashley is Edgar's little sister. She is so sweet and I'm so happy that soon I'll get to add another little sister to my family.

Ashley Aviña

An amazing friend and fellow freshman counselor&nbsp;

Jose Lopez

Chase Reeves

Elisa is one of my closest friends from college. From the beginning of our relationship, she was always one of Edgar and I's biggest supporters and the number one fan of our relationship. She is always so caring and brings so much excitement to everything she does.&nbsp;I am so happy to have her joining me as a bridesmaid!

Elisa Martinez

I first met Jonathan via a program that allowed me to help guide him through the college admissions process. By chance, he ended up attending the same college I&nbsp;was attending, and we became fast friends!

Jonathan Trujillo

I&nbsp;met Pranav in high school, and found out &nbsp;that we were birthday twins! He supported me throughout much of my toughest ordeals in high school, and I&nbsp;cannot wait to have him at the wedding.&nbsp;

Pranav Yanamandala

Mariana is one of my best friends since high school. She has a big heart and a way of always bringing her friends together. I am so happy to have her as my bridesmaid!

Mariana Silva-Nichols

My little brother is unbelievably sharp and witty, and I&nbsp;cannot wait for him to bring his wisecracks to the wedding. It should be a lot of fun!

Omar Aviña

Wedding Party

Photos

Q + A

Registry

While we will not be reserving any room blocks or making specific hotel recommendations, please reach out to us if you have any questions about where to stay!We recommend arriving Friday afternoon/evening at Sky Harbor International Airport. The airport is centrally located and only 10 minutes from Edgar's apartment and 20 minutes from Viviana's family home.Both the wedding ceremony and the reception will be in South Phoenix, so we recommend reserving accommodations in Downtown Phoenix, Central Phoenix, or West Tempe.Viviana (602) 515-6819 and Edgar (346) 244-7326

Viviana & Edgar

Viviana & Edgar

Photos