Misha and Marisa's story began in a small town on the shores of Lake Atitlán, Guatemala. They first met in a cozy little shop called Floresta, a colorful space filled with clothing, instruments, and jewelry. Marisa was there with a group of women from her doula training, while Misha was living at The Lake at the time, working his remote engineering job.

Their first encounter was brief but electric. The moment they saw each other, they locked eyes and felt an unmistakable connection - something deep, powerful, like a love known before. Within minutes of talking they had established that they would connect again, and Marisa proclaimed that, “We have some eye gazing to do”. It was March 10th, 2023.

They met up a few days later for breakfast and cacao at Marisa’s place, and this turned into an all-day affair. A serious connection developed quickly, and there was much talk about life, children, values, dreams, and the kind of world they wanted to build. The connection ran deep, and fast. Misha and Marisa both knew what they wanted, and they felt it in each other. Just two weeks later, they made plans for Marisa to fly to San Diego to attend a retreat and to meet Misha’s mother and brother, who were visiting from out of town.

Over the next few months, their bond deepened across Central America. Eventually, they landed in San Diego, settling into Misha’s oceanside apartment for the summer. This was the test: Could their magic survive the rhythm of day-to-day life, far from the beauty and novelty of travel? The answer was a joyful yes. Life together was easeful, full of laughter and alignment. Things continued to escalate, and soon the idea of engagement was in the air.

In early fall, while visiting Misha’s aunt and cousins in the Dominican Republic, the moment arrived. Under a blue moon - and coincidentally at a restaurant called Blue Moon - on a quiet mountainside, Misha got down on one knee and asked Marisa to be his wife. She was stunned and ecstatic, and said yes.

A few weeks later, they eloped at a courthouse in Texas, exchanging vows with just the judge as their witness.

Still, one final adventure called before they could put down roots. In the fall of 2023, they packed up their lives in San Diego, placed everything in storage, and set off to pursue long-held dreams of deep meditation and plant medicine work. Their path led through Peru, Nepal, Bali, India, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. For a time, they journeyed separately - Misha heading through Europe and back west to Bolivia - each diving into their own inner work. Over the course of the year, they participated in meditation retreats, plant medicine dietas, and other spiritual disciplines.

In total, they spent over three months of 2024 in silence. It was the most challenging year of their lives - and the most transformative.

By the end of 2024, they felt it was time to come home. They chose Austin as their landing place - a city full of nature, music, and community, close to family yet true to their spirit. In time, they hope to move into the countryside to raise their family with roots in the land.

Thank you for being part of this story. We’re so excited to celebrate this next chapter with our beloved family and friends. Your presence means the world to us.

❤