Wedding Date on Mar 12, 2022

It all started in ninth grade when Maria and Ryan had seventh period English class together, the last class of the school day. One of the farthest classrooms from the bus loop, it was always a race to make the bus home. One day, after the final bell of the day, Ryan and Maria found themselves making the long journey to the bus together. Maria’s crush for Ryan had already been forming, but it was this moment that made Maria run to her mom as soon as she got home to tell her that a boy named Ryan Staton walked her all the way to her bus. It was this moment that marks the beginning. Shockingly, Ryan and Maria never were officially boyfriend and girlfriend during their high school years. They were friends and went on a couple of movie dates and ice cream runs, and even snuck in a kiss or two. Throughout high school, they always kept tabs on each other, but again, never put a label on the two of them; Ryan never even asked Maria to Prom (a touchy subject to this day!) Maria went to college in New York City, and Ryan in Virginia, making the chances of ending up together even more unlikely. Four years of school and a few short relationships later, Ryan and Maria move home where they make an astonishing realization. A good friend of Maria and a teammate of Ryan had sadly lost his battle with cancer. They both were very close friends with him but had no idea they shared this special mutual friend. It was his mom, who was already well aware of Maria’s crush for Ryan, who ultimately encouraged Maria to text Ryan and reconnect. Ryan was already going to a restaurant with a couple of others that night and invited her along. Shortly thereafter, Ryan and Maria were finally officially a couple! ​Maria and Ryan continued to date over the next four and half years where they developed their love for each other. Maria received her Master’s in Italy which inspired many trips abroad along the way and the two are now avid travelers; even getting engaged on a quick trip to West Palm Beach. They now have a house with a yard and a dog named Millie. While the story of Ryan and Maria wasn’t certain when they went on that fateful walk to the bus loop so many years ago, they look back on that moment and will laugh about it forever.