It started with a Happy Hour Date. We chose Manuels at the Arboretum location. We were both a fan of the restaurant and knew of its reputation for the freshest regional Mexican cuisine and the famous queso blanco, hand-crafted salsas and cocktails. Walter and I had known one another and had worked together on various video production projects for nearly a decade, We shared a mutual professional respect and admiration toward one another and over the years of working in the Austin video, tv, film community, we had become good friends. But this date in August of 2008 was different. We found ourselves both single and the anticipation and excitement in the air was palatable. We settled into a quiet booth in the rear of the bar and ordered refreshing pomegranate margaritas, salsa and chips. Our conversation shifted to a deeper, more personal connection. We talked about life, our careers, our families, love and loss. And out of that personal conversation came a powerful light of hope. A shared optimistic and romantic belief that we would find love again in our lives. Walter leaned over to kiss me. It was a light, gentle first kiss. We parted for a second and shared the same “Did that just happen?!” look. It took our breaths away, and then it happened….. The Kiss! The second kiss was a worthy of a sonnet, a love song, the final scene of a film before it fades too black. It was a kiss in which I saw my entire future. So when we decided to marry in 2011, we both knew the perfect wedding venue would be at Manuels, where our love story began, We contacted Manuels marketing and catering director and after we shared our love story and our wish to married at Manuels, she and the entire Manuels staff went above and beyond in providing the most beautiful setting for our wedding. We were married on November 11, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. 11-11-11 is an easy anniversary date to remember. It was a gorgeous Autumn day as we were exchanging our wedding vows, leaves of red and gold cascaded from the top of the arbor onto the altar we created in the chapel-like alcove. Immediately following the ceremony, our fifty guests were seated in the courtyard and enjoyed a brunch of delicious migas, platters of fresh fruit, mimosas, and three different flavors of wedding cakes, because why have just one? We will be celebrating our thirteenth wedding anniversary this November. We are so happy Manuels has been the backdrop to our love story and made our wedding day so very special.