It would be a phone call that would set the wheel of fate spinning. There was no reason for Chris to receive an invitation for an interview. He had a stable job with good pay, but a greater power seemed to give him an opportunity he had no clue he wanted or needed. He interviewed and accepted the job. He did not know it then, but he was about to work beside a woman who would make him perceive the world much differently.
Valeria had noticed the new, cute guy at work for a while. His good looks had caught her attention, but now she was seeing that he was kind and thoughtful with everyone around him. Valeria decided to make her move, and she asked him to lunch. Chris, who was usually very quick with analyzing and making decisions, got stumped. A beautiful woman was inviting him to spend time over a meal and all he could say was, “I brought my own lunch”. It was not the answer that Valeria was hoping for and Chris beat himself up all day with regret.
Fate, however, wasn’t done nudging them together. After a work event one evening, a group of coworkers stopped at In-N-Out. Valeria’s shoes were killing her and she took. them off. Without hesitation, Chris took off his socks and gave them to her so she wouldn’t have to walk barefoot. That simple, selfless gesture shifted something in her heart. Soon after, Chris finally picked up on her hints and asked her to dinner.
Their first big date was unforgettable—a hockey game where the Anaheim Ducks won in double overtime. That night, Chris officially asked Valeria out, and from then on, their story truly began. Nervous but hopeful, Chris worried about things like his old beat-up car. But Valeria never cared about appearances or material things. She saw him for who he was. “From that night forward, I watched him effortlessly fit in with my family. I fell more deeply in love with his kindness, his patience, and the way he always puts others before himself. It’s the little things, like making me coffee before I even ask, meal prepping my lunches for the week or surprising me with flowers when I’ve had a rough day. That quiet, everyday thoughtfulness is one of the things I love most about him.”
As the years went on, their love deepened through family gatherings, vacations, and countless everyday moments. Chris fell for Valerie’a compassion—her instinct to help. “She’ll see a frail person with groceries walking home and offer them a ride, she’ll stop and get water for wandering pets, she’ll offer patients a ride home if their ride service gets delayed. Just a few weeks ago, this group of individuals just crossed the border and asked how to get to a certain city and of course Val went above and beyond and helped them out with funds to get there. This type of behavior is not taught, it is developed to how you perceive the world and I love her greatly for that.”
Together, they’ve supported each other through both joyful times and heartbreak. When Chris lost his father in 2021, Valerie was his rock. On his birthday, she gave him a framed photo of his dad with a QR code linking to his father’s last voicemail—a gift that moved him to tears and reminded him he had found someone whose love was boundless and enduring.
After more than eight years of laughter, adventures, and quiet Sundays spent watching football and enjoying BBQ, Chris knew it was time to ask Valerie to marry him. He spent months designing the perfect ring, certain he knew exactly what she would love. He asked her parents, received a tearful blessing from his future father-in-law, and planned a proposal during a trip to visit her brothers in Las Vegas.
New Year’s Eve closures forced Chris to take her to a scenic drive in Red Rock Canyon. As they admired the breathtaking view of mountains and canyons, he dropped to one knee. Valeria turned, and emotion overtook her. The expected tears flowed. What was unexpected was that Chris was crying too. He had cried when he lost part of his family, and now he cried again as he started his own family. Valeria of course said yes!
Today, Chris and Valeria look back with gratitude on every twist of fate that brought them together—from a spontaneous job interview to socks at In-N-Out, from BBQ Sundays to canyon sunsets. They are best friends, partners, and now, soon-to-be husband and wife.
This Story was captured by A Story in Time Photography – Jessie Cadenas with the assistance of Melissa Quezada. We are Los Angeles, Orange County Wedding Photographers located in the Inland Empire. Our style is Classic, Romantic, and Fun. If you are interested in your Family, Quinceañera, Engagement, or Wedding Story being captured, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us using the contact button at the top of this post or HERE.
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