Melissa & Christian in Key Biscayne, FL

Melissa met Christian during an afternoon boat ride with mutual friends. There was an immediate attraction, but both of them were too shy to say anything. They spent the rest of the day talking to the friends they already knew, but kept catching each other’s eye and looking away. We can both be a little timid when we don't know someone very well, says Melissa. The future-couple ran into each other shortly after the boat ride, and the connection was even stronger. They exchanged numbers, and a few weeks later, Christian called Melissa and asked her out to dinner. As the night went on, they found that they had a lot in common, including the fact that both of their families are Cuban, despite Melissa being raised in Miami and Christian in New York. The Bride Melissa Debesa, 24, working in real estate The Groom Christian Martinez, 31, vice-president in ad sales The Date February 9 After three years of dating, Christian proposed to Melissa at a beach resort in Mexico over a romantic dinner. Sixteen months later, the couple was married in a traditional Catholic ceremony at the same church where Melissa's parents exchanged their vows 35 years ago.