The Night We Met:

I’ll never forget the evening that Francisca and I met. Earlier that day, I was in Senegal, Africa, boarding a red-eye flight and returning to the States. I landed at RDU airport sometime around noon, where one of my best friends, Drew Haines, was waiting to pick me up. He had the car completely loaded with clothes and all the necessities (Tequila) for a weekend trip to Miami. So, essentially, I got in the car at RDU, and we made the all day drive down to Miami, all with the singular goal of linking up with my long-time brother Anthony Jacob and being on the shore of South Beach to witness the July 4th fireworks and perhaps party like we were 21-year-olds still.

That entire evening was filled with music, fireworks, tequila shots, and mojitos. As the drinks started to have their effect on us, the last call for alcohol rang out. I thought, ‘Oh goodness, finally… we are for sure done-’ when Drew suddenly shouted, “Hey man! This is the owner of the place! Let's take shots!” I suppose the last call in Miami is just relative; it depends on who you ask. Anyways, we took the shots and finally crawled out of that black hole and outside to the street to get some fresh air and start the walk back to our Airbnb.

We started our walk home talking about working at the hospital; we then crossed the street when out of nowhere, this beautiful, hyper-excited Latina jumped up from sitting on the sidewalk and exclaimed, “Hey! Are you guys working at the hospital?! I’m a resident, and we HAVE to be friends!” From there, we all hung out on the sidewalk… we danced like goofs in the street, laughing and joking the night away. We exchanged phone numbers just before calling it a night and heading our separate ways.

Our Story Since:

The next day, I thought to myself (fellas, you know this), “Give it the ole-72 hr rule Zach; you can do this.” Well, I guess 72 minutes count? I texted her to hang out again, and she absolutely cold-heartedly rejected me; go figure. Fast forward a couple of days later, I was just coming off a day shift at the hospital. I gave it one more college try and texted her again. This time, I spiced it up a bit by offering a Peruvian dinner. Score. She said, “Yes! I love Ceviche!”

Ever since, she’s been saying, “Yes!” Yes, to Salsa & Bachata dance classes, traveling the world, and YES to being at my side for the rest of our lives. Since that first date, we have not stopped spending time with one another. Surviving the year-long distance dating, catching 48-hour weekend trips together, red-eye flights before work, and making our free time count for something bigger. I remember telling her, “Ten minutes together is better than no minutes.” To which my financial advisor (if I had one) was screaming at me. Booking flights for a day or two just to see her. It didn’t matter. She had my heart and soul.

Over the years, we’ve traveled the world and experienced many different cultures (including sleeping in a $1.00 room at a farm in Nicaragua), so when the time came to pick our wedding location, we couldn’t think of a better city or country, than Cartegena, Colombia. It’s a beautiful and special place for us, even though neither of us is Colombian. We wanted our families and friends to experience traveling and being immersed in the rich and romantic tapestry of Cartegna. It’s a city that represents our biggest celebration and joy, we hope you don’t mind the heat! You all were specifically invited because each of you represents different phases of our lives. From our first steps under gravity’s weight to our most cherished moments, you’ve been there helping us find our way to one another. Since then, you have supported our bond together, and we look forward to you having an integral role in our lives in the coming years. Though we each may have different last names, speak different languages, and be worlds apart, YOU are OUR family. See you all soon, and bring with you a suitcase full of good vibes!

Registry

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