Christina & Jorge in Taneytown, MD

When Christina Rilke first met Jorge Ramirez at a friend’s party in New York City, it didn’t exactly seem meant to be. “Jorge asked a friend about me and was told ‘don’t bother, she only dates tall guys,’” Christina remembers. Later, Christina asked her roommate who’d invited her to the party for more info, admitting she had a possible crush. As the bride recalls, “her response was ‘hmm’ -- no help whatsoever!” The next time the two met was at Jorge’s birthday party. “He’d made sure that I was invited and was very attentive and very charming. I was smitten!” Christina says. The Bride Christina Rilke, 29, art gallery registrar The Groom Jorge Ramirez, 30, investment banker The Date March 25 Jorge proposed just seven months later after a black tie gala at Lincoln Center that December. “Even though it was very cold, Jorge seemed very intent on hanging out there and looking at the fountain and the Christmas tree for far too long,” Christina says. “In retrospect, I should have put two and two together!” Afterward, the couple went to dinner, where they immediately told their happy news to -- and were toasted by -- a group of absolute strangers!