Our Story.
How we met.
On the morning of Sunday November 9, 2008, Katrina went to mass with one of her best friends at St. Augustine Catholic church in Gainesville, Florida. Katrina, a senior in high school, was visiting the University of Florida to compete in UFFSA’s Def Talent Jam (DTJ) dance competition. I was freshman at UF and also danced in the Saturday night show. Although I was out late attending additional festivities (aka the after party), I made sure to attend the same Sunday morning mass.
I’d previously heard about Katrina from our mutual friends. They always raved about how she was so smart, talented, and a really good dancer. This was enough to peak my interest; I hoped to meet her during DTJ weekend. When I arrived at mass, I sat at the back and would periodically scan the church to maybe get a glance of Katrina. It was a packed mass and unfortunately, I couldn’t find her.
Afterwards, on the steps in front of the church, I was finally introduced to Katrina. I thought she was really pretty, but you know, I kept my cool and chill demeanor. We conversed and exchanged a few words, smiles, and laughs. Katrina even held on to my shirt as we crossed the busy University Avenue. I didn’t wash that shirt for a week (kidding)! Overall, it was a short and simple encounter, but little did we know that we’d start falling for each other more and more as the next year unfolded.
Katrina, I’m forever grateful for that one day and those few moments with you! I look forward to spending all the rest of my days and creating even more special moments with you, the love of my life.
How he asked.
Lakes and guitars have always been a special part of our relationship. On April 3, 2010, Jerry asked me to be his girlfriend while we were on a picnic next to Lake Alice at the University of Florida campus. He brought out his guitar and serenaded me with a beautiful song he wrote. Afterward, we opened the bible and read a few verses. It was such a sweet moment for the both of us.
Almost 10 years later, on October 18, 2019, Jerry and I took a trip to Northern Italy. We drove 5 hours to Lago Di Braies, a majestic lake deep in the Dolomites. That morning, we got ready to have (what I thought was) one of our typical sunrise photo shoots that we do on all our travels together. As we walked from our hotel room to the lake, we were greeted by a boat house worker who told us the dock was closed, but she kindly let us in to take a few photos because we were “guests of the hotel”. Little did I know that this boat house worker was actually an undercover photographer that Jerry had hired, and her acting was all part of a master plan.
The lake was so beautiful, quiet, and serene. The water was so still that the mountains clearly reflected on the water. As I stood on the deck of the boat house, admiring the beautiful scenery before me, Jerry all of a sudden came out of the boat house onto the deck strumming a guitar. That’s the moment I knew he was going to ask me to be his forever.
Jerry began serenading me with a new song that he wrote, which ended with the greatest proposal I could’ve ever dreamed of.
I am so in love with you, Jerry! You are my best friend, my soulmate, my everything. I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you!
And the rest is history.
