Ahhh, love at first swipe!
Or was it?
In the age of swipes and selfies, a charming young man named Ivan found himself holding a puppy in his Tinder profile—because let’s be real, who can resist a cute pup? Meanwhile, on the other side of the digital world, Cassandra was busy showing off her snowboarding and yoga skills, Ivan thought she was different to what he typically saw— so he sent her a message.
Their digital flirtation quickly transitioned from Tinder to Instagram DMs—because who wants to give their number to a stranger when you can share your entire life through photos instead? The two messaged back and forth relatable posts and memes and the occasional “How was your day?”
A week later, Cass, feeling a mix of bravery and adventure, invited Ivan to a live music show by Mento Buru at Temblor Brewing. What she didn’t mention was that she was bringing her friend Jeff, because hey, meeting a complete stranger in person was a bit much.
The night before Thanksgiving, however, Jeff had other plans and canceled. So, Cass donned her finest "I’m totally not nervous" outfit and bravely ventured out solo. And there they were—two humans in a crowded brewery, blissfully unaware that this was the moment their lives would intertwine.
Over one beer, the two chatted—mostly Cass, who yapped about everything. Ivan, captivated, finally mustered the courage to ask if she wanted to dance. They twirled and swayed like they were the only two people in the room, while the band played tunes that would forever be etched in their hearts.
When the night ended, Ivan walked Cass to her car and wished her a goodnight. That’s right just a wish. No kiss.(eye roll) Cass was taken aback—this gentleman was playing hard to get. But in a plot twist worthy of a rom-com, they finally exchanged numbers and texted each other once they made it home.
Their budding romance turned into a routine of cute park meet ups, runs, bike rides and coffee shop rendezvous in Bakersfield. Fast forward to February, Cass invited Ivan on a snow trip to South Lake Tahoe with her friends. Little did he know this would also be a test of approval. Luckily, the gang gave him a thumbs-up and the trip went perfectly.
As winter melted into spring, they found joy admist the global pandemic by slow days in Lost Hills, hiking, and lazy beach days. Then came the magical evening of April 7, 2020,(lucky number 7!) when Ivan asked Cass to be his girlfriend while they watched the sunset on the coast. It was a heartwarming moment.
Their love blossomed through meeting each others families, becoming dog parents (hello, Ocoee!), and countless trips to epic destinations like Mammoth Lakes, Zion, and Puerto Rico. Each adventure brought them closer. What brought them even closer was their move to the East Coast. A new way of life began. They settled into their first place together, where Cass officially started her photography business and Ivan found a new state to call home.
Life was cruising along until they decided to rekindle their travel flame with a trip to Costa Rica. January 2024 rolled around, and they were off, zip lining through jungles in Monteverde, riding horses on the beaches of Santa Teresa, and, of course, Cass capturing every moment with her camera.
On their final evening in Santa Teresa January 19th, 2024, as they watched the sunset, Ivan had a surprise up his sleeve. While Cass was busy snapping photos, he stealthily set up his GoPro to capture a time-lapse. Just as the sun dipped below the horizon, he popped the question. Cass was so excited “Yes!” she exclaimed, laughter and tears mixing like a perfect cocktail of emotions. (Not I’m a fiancée!!!!!)
Fast forward to August 7, 2024, and they tied the knot at the courthouse in Santa Barbara, surrounded by their immediate family. #LosRobles
But that was just the beginning—the real celebration was set for August 7, 2026, in the picturesque Sorrento, Italy, where they would toast to their love story and celebrate with all their close friends and families!
We are so excited!
Thank you for reading our love story or at least looking through our photos. We can’t wait to finally celebrate with all of our friends and family!