[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/this-whirlwind-virtual-romance-became-a-real-life-engagement\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/this-whirlwind-virtual-romance-became-a-real-life-engagement\/","headline":"This whirlwind virtual romance became a real-life engagement","name":"This whirlwind virtual romance became a real-life engagement","description":"Paul and Alexander\u2019s whirlwind, ocean-crossing romance began when they met online in late 2020.","datePublished":"2021-03-15","dateModified":"2021-03-15","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/author\/molly\/#Person","name":"Molly Sprayregen","url":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/author\/molly\/","identifier":10507,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/a82a2bb933fcf821e7a511d30ad3c653?s=96&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/a82a2bb933fcf821e7a511d30ad3c653?s=96&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Equally Wed","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"http:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/equally-wed-lgbtq-weddings-logo.jpg","url":"http:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/equally-wed-lgbtq-weddings-logo.jpg","width":218,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/MG_7188.jpg","url":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/MG_7188.jpg","height":1333,"width":2000},"url":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/this-whirlwind-virtual-romance-became-a-real-life-engagement\/","about":["Engagement"],"wordCount":357,"keywords":["engagement","online dating","Puerto Rico","San Juan"],"articleBody":"Paul and Alexander\u2019s whirlwind, ocean-crossing romance began when they met online in late 2020. Alexander was living in Puerto Rico, and Paul in South Philadelphia. Despite the distance, a stream of endless phone calls and video chats showed them they were meant to be. Finally, they decided they simply had to meet in person, and doing so confirmed their connection was real.A commitment to make memories together foreverThe couple was so sure they were made for each other that they were engaged only eleven days after their relationship began. \u201cPaul got on his knee and asked me to marry him,\u201d says Alexander. \u201cOf course I said \u2018Yes!\u2019 We are in a different stage in life where we feel fulfilled and satisfied with what each other gives. Life from here on is to make memories together, with no rules or expectations. We agree in living life to the fullest, being faithful to one another and not owing to anyone\u2019s concern or conditions.\u201dPaul and Alexander will be married on December 10, 2021.\u201cWhen it comes to our backgrounds and roots, Paul and I may be very different,\u201d Alexander says, \u201cYet our common grounds in our wants and needs in a life partner were well met…. It didn\u2019t take long then after that for Paul to move to PR and change the city lights for tropical sunsets in San Juan.\u201dHe also says Paul has fully embraced his three kids and grandson. Among the things they love most about one another: their senses of humor.Search our directory of LGBTQ+ inclusive vendors.jQuery(document).ready(function($) {SABAI.init($(\"#sabai-embed-wordpress-shortcode-2\"));});                                                                                                                                                                                        Select categoryBar ServicesBeauty, Grooming and HealthBusiness Owner Self-Identification-Asian-owned-Black-owned-Immigrant-owned-Latinx-owned-LGBTQ+-Neurodivergent-Trans and\/or nonbinary-Woman-owned businessCateringCeremony MusicCounseling and TherapyDance LessonsDestination WeddingsEqually Wed Pro LGBTQ+ Inclusive CertifiedEvent RentalsFashionFavors and GiftsFlowers and Floral DesignHotelsJewelryLGBTQ+ Inclusive and AffirmingLighting and DecorMusic, DJs and EntertainmentOfficiantsPhotographyPlanningPlatinum Wedding VendorsRestaurantsStationeryTransportationTravelUnique ServicesVenuesVideographyWedding Cakes & Sweets                                                                                                    jQuery(document).ready(function($) {        $('#sabai-embed-wordpress-shortcode-2 .sabai-directory-search input').keydown(function(e){        if (e.keyCode == 13) {              $(\"#sabai-embed-wordpress-shortcode-2 .sabai-directory-search-submit .sabai-btn\").click();        }    });    var category_templates = {}, categories = new Bloodhound({        datumTokenizer: Bloodhound.tokenizers.obj.whitespace('name'),        queryTokenizer: Bloodhound.tokenizers.whitespace,        prefetch: {            url: 'https:\/\/equallywed.com\/sabai\/taxonomy\/termlist?bundle=directory_listing_category&parent=0&__type=json'        },        limit: 5    });    categories.initialize();    category_templates.header = 'Suggested Categories';    category_templates.suggestion = function(item){return ' ' + item.title};    var listing_templates = {}, listings = new Bloodhound({        datumTokenizer: Bloodhound.tokenizers.obj.whitespace('title'),        queryTokenizer: Bloodhound.tokenizers.whitespace,        remote: {            wildcard: 'QUERY',            url: 'https:\/\/equallywed.com\/sabai\/directory\/listinglist?query=QUERY&__type=json&bundle_type=directory_listing&num=50'        },        limit: 50    });    listings.initialize();    listing_templates.header = 'Suggested Listings';    listing_templates.suggestion = function(item){return ' ' + item.title};    $('#sabai-embed-wordpress-shortcode-2 .sabai-directory-search-keyword input').typeahead(        {highlight: true, minLength: 1}        , {name: 'listings', displayKey: 'title', source: listings.ttAdapter(), templates: listing_templates}        , {name: 'categories', displayKey: 'title', source: categories.ttAdapter(), templates: category_templates}    ).bind('typeahead:selected', function(obj, datum, name) {        if (name === 'listings') window.location.href = datum.url;        if (name === 'categories') {            window.location.href = datum.url + '?address=' + encodeURIComponent($('#sabai-embed-wordpress-shortcode-2 .sabai-directory-search-location input[name=\"address\"]').val());        }    });    var geocoder, location = $('#sabai-embed-wordpress-shortcode-2 .sabai-directory-search-location input[type=text]');    var autocomplete,        location_templates = {},        findLocation = function(q, cb) {            if (!google.maps.places) return;            if (!autocomplete) autocomplete = new google.maps.places.AutocompleteService();            autocomplete.getPlacePredictions({input: q, types: ['(regions)']}, function(predictions, status){                if (status == google.maps.places.PlacesServiceStatus.OK) {                    cb(predictions);                }            });        };    location_templates.header = 'Suggested Locations';    location_templates.suggestion = function(item){return ' ' + item.description};    var state_templates = {}, states = new Bloodhound({        datumTokenizer: Bloodhound.tokenizers.obj.whitespace('value'),        queryTokenizer: Bloodhound.tokenizers.whitespace,        prefetch: {            url: 'https:\/\/equallywed.com\/sabai\/directory\/locationlist?column=state&addon=&__type=json'        },        limit: 5    });    states.initialize();    state_templates.header = 'Suggested States \/ Provinces \/ Regions';    state_templates.suggestion = function(item){return ' ' + item.value};    var city_templates = {}, cities = new Bloodhound({        datumTokenizer: Bloodhound.tokenizers.obj.whitespace('value'),        queryTokenizer: Bloodhound.tokenizers.whitespace,        prefetch: {            url: 'https:\/\/equallywed.com\/sabai\/directory\/locationlist?column=city&addon=&__type=json'        },        limit: 5    });    cities.initialize();    city_templates.header = 'City';    city_templates.suggestion = function(item){return ' ' + item.value};    var zip_templates = {}, zips = new Bloodhound({        datumTokenizer: Bloodhound.tokenizers.obj.whitespace('value'),        queryTokenizer: Bloodhound.tokenizers.whitespace,        prefetch: {            url: 'https:\/\/equallywed.com\/sabai\/directory\/locationlist?column=zip&addon=&__type=json'        },        limit: 5    });    zips.initialize();    zip_templates.header = 'Suggested Zip Codes';    zip_templates.suggestion = function(item){return ' ' + item.value};    var country_templates = {}, countries = new Bloodhound({        datumTokenizer: Bloodhound.tokenizers.obj.whitespace('value'),        queryTokenizer: Bloodhound.tokenizers.whitespace,        prefetch: {            url: 'https:\/\/equallywed.com\/sabai\/directory\/locationlist?column=country&addon=&__type=json'        },        limit: 5    });    countries.initialize();    country_templates.header = 'Suggested Countries';    country_templates.suggestion = function(item){return ' ' + item.value};    location.typeahead(        {highlight: true, minLength: 1}        , {name: 'location', displayKey: 'description', source: findLocation, templates: location_templates}        , {name: 'city', source: cities.ttAdapter(), templates: city_templates}        , {name: 'state', source: states.ttAdapter(), templates: state_templates}        , {name: 'zip', source: zips.ttAdapter(), templates: zip_templates}        , {name: 'country', source: countries.ttAdapter(), templates: country_templates}    ).bind('typeahead:selected', function(obj, datum, name) {        if (name !== 'location') {            $('#sabai-embed-wordpress-shortcode-2 .sabai-directory-search-location input[name=\"address_type\"]').val(name);        }    }).bind('keyup', function(e) {        if (e.keyCode !== 13 && e.keyCode !== 27 && e.keyCode !== 32) {            $('#sabai-embed-wordpress-shortcode-2 .sabai-directory-search-location input[name=\"address_type\"]').val('');        }    });    $('#sabai-embed-wordpress-shortcode-2 .sabai-directory-search-radius-trigger').click(function(e){        var $this = $(this), container = $this.parent(), radius = container.find('input[name=\"directory_radius\"]'), slid;        SABAI.popover(            $this,            {                html: true,                container: container,                placement: function (pop, ele) { return window.innerWidth - $(ele).offset().left > 300 ? 'bottom' : (SABAI.isRTL ? 'right' : 'left');},                title: 'Location Options',                content: ''                    + 'Search Radius:  mi'                    + ''                    + ''                    + ' Get My Location'            }        );        container.on('shown.bs.sabaipopover', function(){            if (slid) return;            var label = container.find('.sabai-directory-search-radius-label strong').text(radius.val());            container.find('.sabai-directory-search-radius-slider').slider({animate: true, min: 0, max: 100, value: radius.val(), step: 1, slide: function(e, ui){                radius.val(ui.value);                label.text(ui.value);            }});            if (navigator.geolocation                && (document.location.protocol === 'https:' || document.location.hostname === 'localhost')            ) {                var geocode = function (trigger) {                    if (trigger) SABAI.ajaxLoader(trigger);                    if (!geocoder) geocoder = new google.maps.Geocoder();                    navigator.geolocation.getCurrentPosition(                        function (pos) {                            geocoder.geocode({'latLng': new google.maps.LatLng(pos.coords.latitude,pos.coords.longitude)}, function(results, status) {                                if (trigger) SABAI.ajaxLoader(trigger, true);                                if (status == google.maps.GeocoderStatus.OK) {                                    location.val(results[0].formatted_address).typeahead('val', results[0].formatted_address).effect('highlight', {}, 2000);                                    $('#sabai-embed-wordpress-shortcode-2 .sabai-directory-search-location')                                        .find('input[name=\"center\"]').val(results[0].geometry.location.lat() + ',' + results[0].geometry.location.lng()).end()                                        .find('input[name=\"address_type\"]').val('');                                }                            });                        },                        function (error) {                            if (trigger) {                                SABAI.ajaxLoader(trigger, true);                            }                            SABAI.flash(error.message, 'danger');                            SABAI.console.log(error.message + ' (' + error.code + ')');                        },                        {enableHighAccuracy:true, timeout:5000}                    );                };                container.find('.sabai-directory-search-geolocate').show().click(function(e){                    e.preventDefault();                    geocode($(this));                });            }            slid = true;        });    });    $('#sabai-embed-wordpress-shortcode-2 .sabai-directory-search-submit .sabai-btn').click(function(e){        var $this = $(this),            form = $this.closest('form');        e.preventDefault();        form.find('[placeholder]').each(function() {            var input = $(this);            if (input.val() == input.attr('placeholder')) {                input.val('');            }        });        var submit = function(){form.submit()};        var center = $('#sabai-embed-wordpress-shortcode-2 .sabai-directory-search-location input[name=\"center\"]');        if (location.val()            && $('#sabai-embed-wordpress-shortcode-2 .sabai-directory-search-location input[name=\"address_type\"]').val() === ''        ) {            if (!geocoder) geocoder = new google.maps.Geocoder();            geocoder.geocode({address: location.val()}, function(results, status) {                switch (status) {                    case google.maps.GeocoderStatus.OK:                        center.val(results[0].geometry.location.lat() + ',' + results[0].geometry.location.lng());                        submit();                        break;                    case google.maps.GeocoderStatus.ZERO_RESULTS:                        alert('Invalid location');                        break;                    default:                        alert(status);                }            });        } else {            center.val('');            submit();        }    }); });FEATURED VENDORSPhotographer: Ivvor Rocha PhotographySubmit your LGBTQ+ wedding or engagement for editorial consideration."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"This whirlwind virtual romance became a real-life engagement","item":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/this-whirlwind-virtual-romance-became-a-real-life-engagement\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]