They Had Their First Kiss at Disneyland

Ariana prepared for her first

from Frozen and saying a prayer. “I was really excited but also nervous; I hoping he was not some old man,” shares Ariana, 26, who is from Long Beach, California. Ariana agreed to go on a date with Robert, 28, after she received a message from him on CatholicMatch.

“I liked the fact that he sent me a casual message; he asked me how I was doing and how my day was going. I also loved his profile picture—his smile really stood out to me—and the fact that we had similar interests such as exercising, video games, and spending time with friends and family.”

Robert also liked Ariana’s smile. “I saw Ariana’s profile picture when I logged into CatholicMatch one morning, and I immediately was drawn to her pretty smile.

I noticed she was interested in going to Disneyland, playing video games, and going to church, but her profile picture and her smile are what I remember most. I was very happy when she messaged back.” A couple of days later, Robert asked her to go to lunch with him.

They both prayed for a good date—and God answered their prayer.

On the day they were to meet up at the Chinese Restaurant, Ariana’s nerves woke her up before her alarm went off, and she ended up arriving twenty minutes early. After sending up a prayer, Ariana sent Robert a text to let him know he was there and then went to wait in front of the restaurant. “He texted me telling me he was walking up to the restaurant and what he was wearing. When I saw him, I was really happy and excited to see him, and I was also happy that he was not fake or an old man,” laughs Ariana.

Robert, who lives about an hour from Ariana, shared her nerves. “I had heard stories about online dates going badly. I left my house really early because I didn’t want to be late. I arrived to the parking lot with plenty of time, and I remember saying a prayer and asking for God’s blessing that our first date would go well.”

The couple’s prayers were answered. “I remember walking up to the restaurant and seeing Ariana standing in front. She looked beautiful!” shares Robert.

Over a meal of steamed dumplings, they talked about school, their jobs, and where they grew up. Ariana and Robert both joined to connect with someone who shares the same Catholic faith, and to hopefully meet the person they would someday marry. On that first date, they found that in each other.

“The date felt like it went by so fast, and I didn’t want it to end, so I invited him to have Boba tea, which was down the street from the restaurant,” says Ariana. By the time their date ended, Ariana says she was really hoping he’d ask her for a second date.

Robert felt the same. At the end of their date, he walked Ariana to her car and asked her to go to the movies with him for their next date. “I went home that day feeling so happy!" shares Robert. "I really liked her, and I wanted to see her again soon. I look back and will always remember that day.”

Ariana adds, “I went home feeling so happy and in such a good mood. I thanked God that the date went well and hoped we would continue to see each other.

First kiss at Disneyland

Because it had been years since he had been to Disneyland, Robert planned an outing there as one of their dates. “It was one of the best days of my life,” says Robert. “We had an amazing time. We went on a lot of rides, had lunch, watched a show, and also watched a parade and fireworks show.” After that fireworks show, Robert shares that they had their first kiss.

“It was in that moment I knew I wanted to be in a committed relationship with her,” adds Robert. The couple enjoyed the day so much that Robert bought a season pass (Ariana was already a season pass holder). “To this day, we go to Disneyland together often. Every day with her is memorable, and I never want the days to end.”

Sweet tooth inside joke

Because Robert liked to run, Ariana decided she wanted to run with him. "It was hard at first because I didn’t have the stamina like he did, but he was very encouraging and supportive. I now can run 1.5 miles without stopping.”

They also bonded over going to Mass and Confession together, as well as trying new restaurants.

One thing they don’t have in common is a sweet tooth. Ariana says, “I love sweets—candy, cookies, chocolate, cakes, and cupcakes—but I rarely have them because we try not to eat those in my household. So whenever we do have them, I sometimes indulge and eat more than I should. Robert is careful on his sweet intake, whereas I tend to not be careful."

One time when Ariana offered him candy, Robert told her, “No, thank you,” which prompts Ariana to tell him, “You’re not a very ‘sweet’ person.”

“It sounded funny because it could have had two meanings, and I pretended to start crying, and we both started laughing. She walked over to me and said, ‘You’re a very sweet person.’ I will always remember that time and every so often we laugh about it,” shares Robert.

Their families approve

“We both also like spending time with our families,” adds Robert. “Ariana’s family is very

welcoming, warm, and hospitable. I have never felt so welcomed before, and I appreciate everything she and her family have done and continue to do.”

Ariana adds, “My family and friends have reacted very positively to our relationship; they are happy that I found such a great person whom I love dearly and want to spend the rest of my life with. They have commented on how much of a gentleman Robert is, and how he is such a sweetheart. I always tell my family and friends that I’m going to marry him one day, and I am praying about it.”

Robert’s family have also been happy about his relationship. “My parents and sister have told me they really like Ariana, and they see us marrying one day. They like that Ariana is a very sweet and caring person. I have talked to my family about marrying her one day. I have been praying, and one day I will propose to her.”