Maddie and Carlos first met in 2015 at the start of their 8th-grade year in middle school. They quickly became friends and often joked about being “boyfriend” and “girlfriend.” What began as an inside joke carried on throughout the year, until Maddie moved to live with her dad and begin high school elsewhere. They kept in touch for a while but eventually drifted apart as they continued their separate high school journeys.

In 2022, their paths crossed again through mutual friends. They quickly reconnected and grew close, spending nearly every weekend together from October through January. That winter, Carlos moved to St. George to begin his studies at Dixie State University. Despite staying in touch, their busy work and school schedules made it difficult to pursue a relationship at the time.

In April, Maddie also moved to St. George to start school—and from the moment she arrived, they were inseparable. On April 17, 2023, Carlos officially asked Maddie to be his girlfriend. From that day forward, they built a life together, moving in and creating a home filled with love and laughter.

They adopted two dogs: Bella, their sweet and sassy English bulldog, and Tank, their beloved green-eyed boy who brought so much joy to their lives before his recent passing.

After moving back to their hometown of Moab, Utah, Carlos proposed to Maddie on April 17, 2024—exactly two years after they began their journey as a couple.