We matched on Tinder in 2021, right in the middle of Covid. His profile said “professional dancer,” which caught my attention instantly—it had been on my dream partner list since I was 14. (Dated letter to prove it) We met at a park, danced bachata by his speaker, and clicked right away. What was meant to be a quick meetup turned into an eight-hour adventure filled with connection, laughter, and deep conversation. From that day on, it felt like we had found something real.

In February 2021, just a month into dating, a rare Texas snowstorm turned our first Valentine’s Day into a weeklong adventure. Julian came over to meet my parents and ended up snowed in—with no power, we spent days cooking, dancing, laughing, and falling in love. It’s when we first said “I love you,” and when he started learning Russian to connect with my family. That unexpected week showed me he wasn’t just dating me—he saw a future with me.

With $20,000, we’d take the first steps toward a dream we share—opening a wedding venue and a separate ballroom dance studio. After buying a home, getting married, and preparing to start a family, we’re ready to build something that helps others celebrate love too. Creating a space where couples can begin their forever, just like we did, would be a meaningful way to turn our passion and beginning into a legacy.