With Valentine’s Day just days away, we’re thrilled to announce the finalists of Wed Society Miami’s annual Looks of Love contest! There’s truly nothing more heartwarming than reading a love story and seeing beautiful photos that capture the special bond between two people. Over the past few weeks, our team has read and admired the many amazing love stories shared to us and have selected the top 8 couples to enter our Instagram voting competition kicking off on Wednesday, February 11th! Keep on reading to get a jumpstart on reading the incredible love stories of these 8 couples and tune in each day to @wedsociety.miami to vote for your favorite couples and love story. The winner will be announced on Saturday, February 14th and treated to a two night luxury escape at The Sunny. The prize includes an oceanfront room for two nights, valet parking, and a romantic dinner for two — a $2,000 value.
Now, lets meet our couples!:
Garrette + Richard
Photo Credit: Hannah T Photography
Garrette + Richard’s love story started with a Hinge match in August 2022. After a month of talking (and Richard cleverly using seashell photos as his excuse to finally get her number), they met for their first date at a local favorite. It was a breakfast worth waiting for — even if Garrette arrived fashionably late after an outfit crisis that set her back an hour. Knowing how much Bonita Beach means to Garrette and her family, Richard chose that very shoreline for the next chapter. In January 2025, what seemed like a simple sunset walk before meeting his parents for drinks turned into the surprise of a lifetime — a proposal surrounded by a field of red roses along the sand. And because he’s all about the details, he had secretly gathered their closest friends and family nearby to celebrate the moment and toast to their future.
Now, they’re counting down to November 13th, when they’ll say “I do” and officially begin their next adventure together.
Elizabeth + Jacob
Photo Credit: Madeline Paige
Elizabeth + Jacob’s story began in August 2021 at her local college dive bar, thanks to a few mutual friends and perfect timing. She was stepping into her senior year; he had just graduated and moved to her college town. Not long after, they had their first official date at a nearby brewery — and ended up closing the place down, talking like they’d known each other forever. A year later, Jacob brought her back to that very spot before dinner to celebrate their anniversary, a full-circle moment that felt so them. Fast forward a few years to Valentine’s Day weekend on a vineyard getaway. Jacob spent the day searching for the “perfect” proposal backdrop, but nothing felt quite right. So he trusted his instincts. After dinner — and after Elizabeth twisted her ankle getting up from the table — he pulled the car around and proposed in the rain. Unscripted, unexpected, and absolutely perfect.
Gurleen + Angad
Photo Credit: ClickinMar
Gurleen + Angad’s story began in the most modern way possible: online. Gurleen never thought dating apps would actually lead to something real, but the day she met Angad, something shifted. She’s from Michigan, he’s from Florida, and after months of talking and building trust, she finally flew down to meet him. Nervous doesn’t even begin to cover it, but from their very first date on June 21, 2023, she felt something rare. What started as an awkward lunch at Pirate Republic turned into Cuban cortados and axe throwing, where the walls and the ice both came down. It wasn’t love at first sight, it was familiarity. Comfort. The feeling of home. Two years and one day later, on June 21, 2025, Gurleen flew Angad to Iceland. She’s a pilot, and he was her passenger. In front of Skogafoss, their favorite waterfall, he got down on one knee and asked her to marry him. Of course, nothing came easy behind the scenes. Three photographers canceled before the proposal, but because Angad knew how much capturing that moment mattered to her, he kept searching until he found the right one. The day was intentional, thoughtful, and full of quiet determination, just like his love for her. For Gurleen, to be loved is to be heard. Their relationship and their engagement are proof of that. And whether they win anything or not, she’ll always take the chance to brag about her sweet fiancé and the kind of love that feels like home.
Claudia + Diego
Photo Credit: Domingo Cabrera
Claudia + Diego’s story began in 2020 at a local Miami bar. What was meant to be just a casual night out turned into the start of something neither of them saw coming. Both originally from Venezuela, they instantly connected over their shared roots, big ambitions, and a mutual love for adventure. From that night on, they’ve been inseparable. They’re spontaneous at heart, always ready to book the flight, plan the trip, and say yes to whatever comes next. But as much as they love the big moments, it’s the everyday ones that mean the most. Cooking dinner together, catching the sunrise, and even sitting in Miami traffic somehow turn into their favorite memories because they’re side by side, laughing the whole way. Somewhere between the grand adventures and the quiet, ordinary days, they realized they had found their forever.
Jade + Garrett
Photo Credit: Mountain Magic Media
Jade + Garrett’s story started in high school, when they were just 15 and 16 years old. What began as teenage love grew up right alongside them, turning into a relationship that has spanned more than a decade of life, change, and growing together. Long before they ever officially met, one of Garrett’s friends showed him a photo of Jade. His response? “I’m going to marry her one day.” And somehow, he was right. Eleven years later, during their annual ski trip with their families, that full-circle moment finally arrived. They were in Crested Butte, Colorado, a place that had been part of Garrett’s life since childhood and one Jade was experiencing for the first time, though skiing out West had always held a special place in her heart. He planned a dinner to celebrate their anniversary, and on the way, they stopped at a park where he got down on one knee and asked her to spend forever with him. From high school hallways to mountain peaks, their love has always felt meant to be.
Alphonse + Mark
Photo Credit: Consueloed Eling Photography
Alphonse + Mark’s story began in 2013 in Hamden, Connecticut, while Alphonse was studying nursing at Quinnipiac University and Mark was working at a local Dunkin’ Donuts. What felt like a chance meeting turned out to have deeper roots. Their families had unknowingly crossed paths years before, from a parent dating an aunt to their moms connected through childhood softball. It’s as if their lives had been orbiting each other long before they realized it. As they grew into adulthood together, they faced life’s biggest moments side by side. They built demanding careers in healthcare and law enforcement, leaned on each other through the heartbreaking loss of Mark’s mother to scleroderma, and found so much light again when they adopted their German Shorthaired Pointer, Cooper, who quickly became the center of their world. Through every high and low, their partnership only deepened.
Ten years later, during a trip through Europe, Mark planned a proposal worthy of their journey. While walking along the canals of Amsterdam, a stranger offered to take their photo. Instead, Mark dropped to one knee. Today, they call Milford, Connecticut home, fill their days with travel, spoiling Cooper, and dancing to Cher in honor of his mom. On March 13th, they’ll celebrate their next chapter with a wedding in Coconut Grove, Miami, surrounded by the people who have walked this beautiful road with them.
Emily + Austin
Photo Credit: Daniel James Photo Co
Emily + Austin’s journey began with a lucky chance encounter at UCF orientation, where a quick chat about their hometowns turned into eight years of never-ending conversation and laughter. From their early days as college students to now, they’ve spent nearly a decade growing together, bonded by their shared love for cooking and travel. Last August, Austin honored their California chapter together with a romantic proposal on the Carmel coast, a beautiful tribute to the state they’ve called home for the past three years. Now, they are coming full circle to exchange vows this March in Miami, the city that raised them, surrounded by the culture and people they love most. It’s been an incredible journey so far, and they can’t wait to see what the next decade has in store.
Alexandra + Nicholas
Photo Credit: YESIDO Productions
Alexandra + Nicholas’ story began with a dating app match, a simple swipe that turned into something neither of them expected. On June 24, 2023, they met for the first time for dinner and drinks. It poured rain on their walk to the restaurant, leaving them completely soaked, but neither of them cared. From that first conversation, the connection felt easy, natural, undeniable. After dinner, they wandered through Miami hand in hand. It felt less like a first date and more like two people picking up where they had left off. Just over a month later, Nicholas asked Alexandra to be his girlfriend, and from there, their relationship only deepened. Together, they grew in faith, learning to pray side by side and place God at the center of their love. Their shared passion for the University of Miami added another layer to their story, whether cheering on the Hurricanes or walking through campus, the U becoming part of their rhythm.
Through long distance seasons, personal challenges, and countless victories, they continued choosing each other. And on May 2, 2025, Nicholas proposed. Ready to step into forever, their love is rooted in faith, intention, and a future they are building hand in hand.
In the end, each of these eight beautiful love stories serves as a testament to the many ways love can bloom—whether through chance encounters, years of friendship, or serendipitous moments. They remind us that love isn’t just a fairy tale; it’s a journey that often takes unexpected twists, teaches us invaluable lessons, and brings two hearts together in the most beautiful and unique ways. Whether sparked by fate or nurtured over time, these stories inspire us to believe in love’s incredible power to transform our lives and to never stop looking for the kind of connection that makes every moment feel extraordinary.
Be sure to vote on Wed Society Miami’s Instagram stories every day from Wednesday, February 11th – Saturday, February 14th and cheer on your favorite couple!
