Our Story

In January 2017, Santiago, 28, moved from Montevideo to San Francisco to start a job with Salesforce. Maya, 23, had also recently settled in San Francisco for the same reason. They landed on the same project, working side by side every day.

Initially, their relationship was strictly professional, marked by mutual respect and appreciation. Santiago valued Maya’s professionalism, dedication, and maturity. Maya was quick to notice Santiago’s pragmatism and no-nonsense work ethic. He took time to explain technical things to her, patiently answering her questions and delivering exactly what she wanted. They understood each other well, and made an efficient pair in the workplace. 

In 2018, after a year of working together, something changed. Following a long workday that stretched into the night, they found themselves talking over chat long after work hours. Santiago invited Maya for a drink, and over the course of that evening they both realized their undeniable mutual attraction, marking the beginning of their relationship. 

Their courtship was short, and they were soon inseparable. From their first trip to Spain to moving in together, they proved to be a resilient pair. The pandemic only strengthened their relationship, showing them that despite being together all day, every day, they could still rejoice in each other's company. This led them to welcome El Toby Colman into their lives on Father’s Day 2020.

Merging their different backgrounds required personal growth and adjustment. Santiago adapted to life in America, getting his driver’s license at Maya’s urging. Maya introduced Santiago to Cook’s Illustrated magazine, deepening his passion for cooking. In turn, Maya is periodically dragged to the symphony and opera, and watches long foreign cinema films at Santiago’s request.

Throughout their relationship, they navigated memorable firsts. This included Santiago's first time seeing snow, comical ski lessons, celebrating Halloween with Toby, and weathering their first big fight in Amsterdam. In 2020, Maya visited Uruguay and discovered her love of Uruguayan carbs. In 2022, Santiago finally got his Green Card, guaranteeing his permanent residence in the United States. With this major milestone behind them, they could finally start looking ahead to the next phase of their relationship.

Staying true to themselves, the “proposal” was a pragmatic and decisive step. During a trip to New York in August 2023, they talked about their future, and decided they wanted to build the rest of their lives together. They began ring shopping, swiftly concluding their search a month later with an agreement on the perfect ring. In early September, they announced their engagement.

Today, Santiago and Maya happily reside in San Francisco where they regularly enjoy hosting family and friends, delighting in sharing their home and Santiago’s culinary creations. Their weekends are filled with day trips around the bay, hiking with Toby, shopping, and eating. Together, they continue to write their love story, one adventure at a time.