How We Met

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In early April 2021, after dinner at Joe T. Garcia’s—and the kind of margaritas that make you feel bold—Maritza finally downloaded Facebook Dating. A few swipes later, she matched with Billy.

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Billy’s profile stood out. Alongside his photos was a lineup of emojis he used to describe himself: —a charming shorthand for his personality. At the end, he added a prompt: “Your turn — describe yourself in emojis.”

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Maritza responded with a string of emojis— and a few other beach-themed emojis—finishing with , the little brown girl in a business suit, to sum her up perfectly.

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“She was the only one who actually paid attention — I remember giggling when I saw her

response.” — Billy

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Billy still swears that tiny detail made the match different from the very beginning.

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The First Meeting

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April 22, 2021. Billy had included a chef emoji in his profile. Curious, Maritza asked what he liked to cook. He replied confidently that his specialty was flautas. Maritza joked, “Well, I’ll have to try them one day.” Without hesitation, Billy said: “I can take you some for lunch.”

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And he meant it. Soon Billy stopped by her office — no fanfare, no agenda — just an intention to show up well. He brought a full meal he’d cooked himself: flautas, fideo, and beans with chorizo. They chatted for a few minutes. Then he left, and she sat down to eat.

 

After lunch, Maritza called her brother, Mando, to tell him what happened.

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“Mando told me, ‘Do not eat that man’s food.’ I said, ‘Too late. I ate everything — and it was

delicious.’” — Maritza

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What Maritza didn’t know then was that this simple gesture — thoughtful, intentional, and quietly confident — would be the first of many. It was the beginning of Billy showing her exactly who he was.

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The First Date

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May 8, 2021. Billy pulled up to Maritza’s house in his Porsche 911 Turbo, wearing hot pink shorts and Versace sunglasses—an entrance that instantly made Maritza laugh. It wasn’t her style at all; she’s far more understated. But somehow, their differences made the moment feel unexpectedly charming.Their first stop? A Botox appointment with Dorian —who, unknowingly, was about to become a long-term fixture in their relationship. (They still see him four years later.)

 

Maritza was nervous, so she brought an entire bottle of red wine… and her own wine glasses. Maritza drank most of the bottle before the injections even started. It was that kind of day. The Botox date turned into a 10–12 hour, completely unplanned adventure—food, conversation, laughter, a blur of connection, and a final late‑night stop at Blue Cenote that sealed the deal on a date neither of them expected.

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“He was a true gentleman, and I could feel how present he was. It made the whole day feel

different.” — Maritza

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When It Became Serious

 

By July 2021, something had shifted. What began as fun and unexpected soon settled into something deeper — steady, natural, and unmistakably real.

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Maritza had recently moved back into her house, and the living and dining rooms were still empty. Those empty rooms became the backdrop to their growing connection. They spent countless nights talking for hours, music playing through the speakers, the two of them dancing across the bare floors to Gary Hobbs, laughing, spinning, and learning each other

one song at a time.

 

There were no distractions. No furniture. Just the two of them in an open space that somehow made everything feel effortless.

 

“With her, everything made sense. It didn’t feel rushed — it felt natural.”— Billy

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The Proposal

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October 22, 2023 — San Pedro, Belize. What looked like a calm, sun-drenched day to Maritza was, in reality, a whirlwind of nerves unfolding quietly around her.

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They spent the afternoon at Secret Beach, where Maritza floated in the water, blissfully unaware, while Billy — trying to manage the growing knot in his stomach — ended up taking shots with the beach bar owner. After Billy confessed he was planning to propose, the owner kept handing him drinks to “take the edge off.”

 

Meanwhile, Maritza was simply enjoying the moment.

 

Then came the photo. Maritza called Billy over for a picture, and he rushed into the water without thinking… completely forgetting his phone was in his pocket. When he stepped out of the water, the phone was dead. And with it went:

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• His entire proposal speech.

• His communications with the restaurant manager.

• The instructions for the photographer waiting that night.

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Billy panicked quietly. Maritza had no idea.

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Behind the scenes, a family-level operation launched instantly: Maritza’s brother stepped in to help recover a version of the speech, they raced back to the Airbnb, and Billy placed his phone in rice, hoping for a miracle. Billy then rushed to the restaurant to explain the situation and let them know they’d be late.

 

Hours later, salvation arrived — Billy’s oldest daughter found a draft of his speech and sent it to Maritza’s brother. Billy finally had it back in hand, just in time for dinner. At dinner, Billy proposed, and Maritza said yes.

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“The moment I remember most is after dinner, when it was just us — sand, ocean, and a sky full of stars. I took it all in, and I still think about that moment often.”— Billy

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“Belize holds such an important place in my heart, and I’m so grateful our story now lives there too.” — Maritza

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The phone? It never turned back on.

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Life Together and Now

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Life together has been full, real, and beautifully human. Over the years, they’ve navigated seasons of change. Every step, whether calm or chaotic, has strengthened the foundation they’ve built.

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They’ve learned to grow together, to support each other through everything, and to build a life defined by partnership, humor, resilience, and deep care.

 

And now, the timing is finally right. The moment has arrived. They’re ready.

 

Ready to stand in front of the people who know and love them most.

Ready to celebrate with their closest family and friends.

Ready to honor everything they’ve weathered and everything they’ve built.

Ready for their wedding day — and all the life that will follow it.