Our Story

Ashley and Americo’s story unofficially began in Florida where Ashley was born and raised and where Americo’s family immigrated to from Peru. They both attended USF at the same time and likely sat in the same classes together, but it was ultimately New York City that brought them together. It was there that Ashley took a risk on a stranger who had posted only one picture of himself on a dating app.

Their first date was on November 6th, 2019. Americo chose The Cauldron, a “fantasy-inspired” pub in downtown Manhattan. However, those plans were quickly derailed; the pub was hosting a private event Americo didn’t know about. They instead met for dinner at PJ Clark’s in Brookfield, and Ashley found out that Americo had chosen their original date spot not because of some secret love of fantasy or Harry Potter, but because it was close to his office.

Most people wait another week or two before going on their second date, but not Ashley and Americo. In their first week of knowing each other, they went on not one or two dates, but on three. There was a walk through Bryant Park’s Winter Shops where Americo bought them matching prints from a NYC street artist, a long conversation on the steps of the New York City Public Library, and another date in Central Park followed by drinks at The Smith.

There was no slowing things down from there. Ashley and Americo were inseparable, as were Americo and Ashley’s French Bulldog Lucy who Americo loved enough to carry in his arms up and down the stairs to his 5th floor walkup.  This may or may not have had an impact on Americo’s decision to move to Jersey City with Ashley… to a building with an elevator.

Traveling has been a big part of Ashley and Americo’s relationship. Their first trip together was to Dallas, Texas where they rented a convertible in the middle of Winter. They drove with the top down and the heat on the blast, and it was in the stockyards of Fort Worth that Ashley took Americo to see his first rodeo. And even a global pandemic couldn’t stop them. Their first international trip was to Playa Del Carmen, Mexico where they went to the cenotes and had the resort almost to themselves.

It should be clear by now that Ashley and Americo are a couple that do things on their own terms. They may have traveled to beautiful foreign countries where proposals are “expected”, but Americo instead popped the question in their living room while a Chelsea vs. Liverpool game played in the background. We know it's true love when a soccer game is willingly interrupted. 

Ashley and Americo can't wait to celebrate their wedding day with you on March 19, 2022!