Some love stories begin with love at first sight. Ours? Not quite.

It all started in the summer of 2015, when a mutual friend brought Victoria along for a night out. Their first encounter was anything but romantic—exploring an abandoned school with a group of friends. A few weeks later, they crossed paths again at a party Rich was hosting.

As the night went on, Victoria decided it was time to leave. Rich, however, had other plans. As she headed toward the car, he came running outside hoping to get her phone number. Her response? Jump into the car and tell her friends to hit the gas.

Clearly, she was playing hard to get. Very hard.

But Rich wasn't easily discouraged. Not long after, he asked their mutual friend for Victoria's number. She agreed to give it to him—with one tiny adjustment. She intentionally changed a digit. Luckily for Rich, their friend eventually gave him the correct number.

They officially started dating in early 2017. Since then, their relationship has been filled with endless laughter, plenty of teasing, adventures, many Disney trips and the perfect amount of driving each other crazy. They've grown up together, traveled together, and learned that life is a lot more fun when you have someone by your side who can make you laugh through just about anything.

Fast forward to October 2025. Rich had an engagement ring, a trip to Las Vegas, and apparently no shortage of patience. After carrying the ring around for days, he finally found the perfect moment at the Grand Canyon in Arizona. On October 26th, he got down on one knee and, for once, managed to leave Victoria completely speechless.

Ten years after she told her friends to hit the gas, she finally said yes to the guy she originally ran from.

Why Portugal?

Sometimes the most meaningful things in life are the ones you never planned.

When Victoria and Rich first began planning their wedding, Portugal wasn't even on the list. They had visited venues closer to home, but nothing felt quite right.

Then, one weekend, a series of unexpected changes brought them somewhere that would change everything.

Rich's military orders were delayed, Victoria's mom's weekend plans were canceled, and the three of them unexpectedly found themselves together at a wedding expo.

A chance conversation with a photographer led them to Mafalda, a destination wedding planner who happened to be Portuguese and split her time between New Jersey and Lisbon.

A destination wedding had always seemed like a distant idea, especially to Rich and Victoria's mom. But for the first time, it began to feel possible.

For Victoria, the thought of Portugal carried a meaning far beyond a beautiful wedding destination. It was a connection to her family, her heritage, and the memories of her late father. A place that had always represented family and belonging suddenly offered a way to feel a little closer to someone she wished could be there for one of the most important days of her life.

And as the idea began to take shape, there were little moments that made it feel even more special. One day, Victoria came across a video of a comedian performing in Lisbon. He handed the microphone to a woman in the audience, whose name happened to be Mafalda—the very same name as their wedding planner, and one Victoria had never heard before meeting her.

Maybe they were simply coincidences. Or maybe, in their own small way, they were reminders that some things have a way of falling into place exactly when they're supposed to.

For Victoria, it felt like a little piece of her dad was guiding her toward a place that had always been part of her story.

What began as an unexpected conversation became a decision that felt more meaningful with every passing day.

And now, after all these years, Victoria and Rich are bringing their story full circle, planning a wedding across the Atlantic and bringing their favorite people along for the adventure.

We couldn't imagine a more special place to begin this next chapter, and we can't wait to share it with all of you.

See you in Portugal!