How They Met

Turn back the clock to 2012…

Vannesa Gonzalez and Raymond Downing Jr. met at a bar through a mutual friend. The first thing that R ever said to V was…

“Are you going to dance or just stand there”?

After that, they couldn’t go a single day without talking for hours on the phone. Soon after they met, Raymond started his college career at a community college. Now, he has his masters in engineering and Vannesa has been standing by his side through it all.

The Proposal

After eight years of love and partnership, Raymond planned a beautifully intimate proposal for Vannesa. With a scavenger hunt and a bit of help from his soon-to-be step son, this Christmas Eve proposal has us feeling emotional even to this day.

Here’s how it went:

As per their tradition, on Christmas Eve, each of them got to open one present under the tree before they turned in for the night. When Vannesa opened hers, it was actually the first clue to Raymonds master proposal plan. Each clue was a beautiful memory or a photograph from somewhere they had been together, but when she found the last clue, she turned around to find Raymond on one knee and her son crying while he recorded the once-in-a-lifetime moment.

Future Plans

With the help of Susan Obregon from Timeless Moments by Design, this couple is planning to have their wedding this coming November at the Club at Sonterra. While it has been a bit more difficult to plan via zoom and online meetings, this couple has stayed positive and is making the most out of their situation.