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Courtney, 30, and Fernando, 31, met at Fernando’s workplace, the bank branch Courtney and her family use. Courtney’s dad was the one to set the couple up and – less than a year from their first official date – they married April 24, 2010. The couple live in Charlotte, and Courtney tells their story.
Bank run: I grew up in Charlotte and Fernando had been living here about nine years when we started dating. I had met him at the bank in the past – obviously, his amazing Latino looks made it impossible to forget him – but nothing more than simple conversations came from our meetings.
Thanks, Dad: I had sold my house and moved back in with my parents while getting my second master’s degree to become a substance-abuse counselor. My dad’s business also does its banking where Fernando worked, and my dad asked if he was single, then mentioned me. Fernando called me to discuss “some community opportunities for business” that we could work on together.
When it’s right: We met up at Sullivan’s on April 1, 2009. Fernando proposed July 18, we bought a house July 24 and were married the following April. (The ceremony was in the same church my parents were married in 32 years ago.) Everyone said it was impossible for my dad to complain since it was all his doing. Since then, my single friends have tried to enlist his help as a match-maker.
How long: Generations of my family have lived in Charlotte, and I’m still debating how long to make Fernando wait to become a “Charlottean.” But I love the pieces of his Ecuadorian culture that my family and I have learned from him, and am honored to share this city with the love of my life. Hilary Trenda
TELL US YOUR LOVE STORY
E-mail htrenda@charlotteobserver.com. Type “love story” in subject field. Include full names, ages, address, daytime phone number, wedding date, photo. To read past Love Stories: www.charlotteobserver.com/love.
