CONNECT
Maria is from Spain and Angelo is from Haiti, though they’ve settled in Philly as their home base. They met at while going out for salsa lessons in the city. They love to travel together. Their favorite date was a sunset picnic during their first trip together in Miami Beach, FL where they enjoyed eating, drinking, dancing, and laughing in each other’s company. The photos were created to reflect these different aspects of their relationship.
About The Couple
Maria: I love languages, since I was a kid I was fascinated by learning different languages. My love for languages drove me to travel to other countries since I was very young. I loved it so much that I decided to become a language teacher. I teach Spanish as a second language and I absolutely love what I do. Teaching is such a growing and rewarding career. Besides teaching, I love dogs, I have fostered several puppies and we know own our own little 11 year old Pomeranian Toy. His name is Poe -after the writer. I love dancing, too. It not only brought Angelo into my life, but it was the best therapy I ever had when times were rough. I hope to have a beautiful family with Angelo, we both love kids and can’t wait to have a family of our own.
Angelo: I love the classics, including but not limited to fashion, art, music, food, home decor and most importantly my woman (Maria). I like knowing about different cultures and what drives people. I am very social and love taking part in social engagements. Hints: How I met Maria. (Salsa Dancing). I come from a really big Haitian family which I am very close to. I hope to see as much of this world as possible.
How They Met
Maria: We met dancing on a Saturday at Brazil’s. I was out with my friend, and I saw Angelo across the dance floor. He asked me to dance with him, and I said yes. He smelled so good, that I may have sniffed him a few times while we were dancing. From the moment I saw him I felt an instant connection that struck as odd. I had the impression that he was kind of mysterious, since he tends to be serious at first. It was love at first sight, or “sniff” if you wish 🙂
Angelo: We were dancing bachata at Brasil’s on a Saturday night. She sniffed me and I knew I met the match to my weirdness.
Favorite Date
Maria: Probably a picnic we had in Miami Beach at Sunset. It was our first trip together, Angelo prepared all the food and made special cocktails (he is really good at both), and we enjoyed a beautiful dinner until it started pouring down. We had to run back to the hotel, which was only 5 minutes away, but we ended up soaking wet by the time we got there. It was still perfect.
Angelo: My favorite date was our sunset picnic in South Beach Miami. We ate, drank, danced and laughed. Like we always say, “we have the life.”
Favorite Thing They Like To Do Together
Maria: Cooking while listening to music and drinking wine, traveling, talking endlessly and making fun of each other.
Angelo: We are both foodies. We enjoy cooking together but only because we enjoy eating more. Traveling together has become a tradition and making new tradition together has become a necessity.
What They Love About Each Other
Maria: He is the most loving and caring partner I could have asked for. I never thought I could feel so loved and protected. He is such a genuinely good person, with the kindest heart. He goes out of his way to help others; he is always putting others first, and that makes me try to be a better person. I feel the luckiest woman in the world, he is absolutely amazing in every way.
Angelo: I love the fact that she allows herself to be absolutely vulnerable with me. We know all of each others insecurities, flaws, shortcomings and it enables us to push one an other.
The Proposal
Maria: It was December 21st, we went to the Philadelphia Orchestra to see the Christmas Concert “The glorious sound of Christmas” (my absolute favorite Xmas tradition). Then he took me out to dinner to the restaurant XIX at the Bellevue. We were sitting at a table with a view to the whole city. That night there was a very dense fog, so you could barely see the buildings across the street. He waited until the end of the dinner, just took out the ring and didn’t say anything for a few minutes. It was so intimate, and special. When he finally asked, I said yes!
Angelo: I had all the right words in mind on how I was going to ask her to marry me. It was from the heart and it ws perfect. We had an amazing window seat at XIX at the Bellevue. There was an amazing view of the city with a light haze of fog over the skyline. It was beautiful and it was perfect. After a delicious dinner, it was time to pop the big question. My hands were glazed with sweat as I fumbled getting the ring out of my pocket. I looked for the perfect words I had in my head but they had drowned in the sea of nervous thoughts rushing through my mind. I had an out of body experience. My outer consciousness witnessed my body presenting her with the ring, with no words and as nervous as a child giving his first crush that “do you like me note (check Yes or No)”.Then I saw her face. In her eyes was a collision of love, joy and grace, that only God himself could place in someones heart. She was in awe of me despite my frozen state. Her smile and kind words brought me back down to earth and the fog that seemed to have filled my head like the city skyline dissipated. I finally slip the ring on her finger and asked her to be my everything forever. She said yes, and it was perfect.”
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