November 2020…. Raquel working in Dallas for the week had an unexpected disruption. Hurricane Eta tracking for her hometown shut down Tampa International Airport. With a canceled flight, travel plans upended, and the world still in lockdown she cured her boredom with a visit to Bumble. That’s when it happened. Florida woman meet guy from Texas.

After chatting for hours, they hatched a plan. Lunch tomorrow anyone? Alas, the evil American Airlines stepped in to keep the couple apart… with an offer of an earlier flight home, Raquel texts Patrick “Im sorry I can’t meet for lunch today. American booked me on a morning flight and I need to get home to my kids”. Patrick, never a quitter, went to plan B and they agreed to meet at the local Starbucks before “the one” headed to the airport. We squeezed in a quick coffee meetup and it was brief (one of us had already had coffee, but still said yes), the spark was instant.

We parted ways that morning, both wondering if this unexpected moment might be the start of something more.

One week later boy flies to Florida to take birthday girl to dinner. The 14 hour visit and roses on the dinner table changed everything for us both.

What about the 929 mile flight distance? How do we overcome that?

We adjusted parenting schedules, booked flights, and built a rhythm. Raquel took on the weekly flights back and forth TPA-DFW, DFW-TPA. Patrick filled in with a monthly trip to spend time with Alyssa and Evan and get to know the family.

It wasn’t always easy—but it was always worth it.

As our love deepened, so did our adventures.

We both love to travel—whether it’s a quick domestic getaway or a big international escape. We made it a priority to explore new places together, collecting memories and miles along the way.

One of the first questions ever asked in this relationship was, “If you could visit any country, where would you go?” The answer: Greece.

So, in September 2022, we went. From Athens to Paros, Mykonos to Santorini—it was a dream trip. And in Paros, it became even more unforgettable: that’s where SHE SAID YES!

The ring had been custom-designed and secretly carried across international borders (tucked into a little baggie in a wallet, no less). Customs had been a source of anxiety, but the moment the ring went on the finger, all that worry disappeared.

Also worth noting: the morning of our sunrise engagement portraits, we found out that FSU (her school) had beaten LSU (his school) in the season opener. Our Tiger fan took the loss like a champ and decided he loved the Seminole.

This is meant to be..

In 2023, we kept up our traveling and long-distance rhythm—still meeting between Tampa and Dallas, still making time for new adventures together.

Somewhere along the way, the conversation shifted to the idea of growing our little family. Santana, Alyssa, Sultan and Evan were all aboard with the blended family, but it felt like something might make everything even BETTER.

One of us was all in. The other could be described as skeptical or terrified. With all the travel, it didn’t seem practical—but the seed was planted.

In early 2024, the puppy plan became reality. We found the sweetest little dog, and she instantly became the heart of our home. Tiny, fluffy, and full of personality, she now goes everywhere with us—and somehow fits perfectly into our on-the-go lifestyle.

And then came the next big decision: the wedding.

We chose May 28, 2026 as our date, and after a lot of dreaming (and scrolling), we picked the perfect place: Mauritius.

It’s remote, beautiful, meaningful—and just far enough to match our adventurous spirit. Fun fact: it’s also the furthest international airport from DFW. And as if it couldn’t get more special, one of our closest friends is from there, making the destination feel even more like home.

So that’s where we’ll begin our next chapter—surrounded by love, turquoise waters, and the people who’ve been part of our story all along.