Lacey & Breanne — San Diego, CA
Lacey Mayer, Community builder and content creator
Breanne Acio, CEO of The Vanlife App by Sekr
When Breanne walked into the Starbucks Lacey was working at in 2009, she had no idea it would lead to finding her future partner. Lacey remembers everything from that day — including Breanne’s order. After her shift finished, she spotted Breanne hanging out with a friend of hers and instantly gravitated toward her. They became friends and stayed that way for a little over a year, when they “very randomly” kissed. “It was magical,” says Lacey. “We instantly fell in love but started dating a couple months later.”
Lacey and Breanne’s relationship grew organically during their friendship into an intense love as they learned everything about each other, from communication style to passions. But when they discovered that love, it was as if new doors opened for them. “As friends, we had reached for the stars together and discovered we could make our dreams happen,” says Lacey. “As a couple though, we started to really flourish in our dreaming and step-taking.”
The pair got engaged in 2012, though gay marriage wasn’t legal yet and Proposition 8 in California was under heavy debate. But on May 31, 2013, the state legalized gay marriage; one year later to the day, Lacey and Breanne got married.
While 2020 was a difficult year for the couple due to a number of personal hardships and the state of the world, it was also the first year they were able to achieve some of their long-term goals like location-independence, flexible work schedules, and full-time travel. “This year has been one of our best years for growth in our overall happiness, our communication, our feelings of security in our lifestyle and environment, our health, and our time/financial-management,” says Lacey. The year also allowed them to slow down — something they had been promising they’d do for almost 10 years.
That breathing space has made them more secure, though, despite knowing their passions and career investments still have a long way to go. “At least we can move forward with less financial stress, more communication, more time, a focus on our personal health and well-being, a conducive and comfortable work-life environment, balance, and this newfound happiness we can have together because of all of it,” says Lacey.
Lexy & Tatiana — Brooklyn, NY
Lexy Lopez, Sales and design coordinator
Tatiana Perone, Owner, TatiJPG
Lexy and Tatiana first met while on a study abroad program in London after Tatiana became friends with Lexy’s roommate. The pair spent the entire 3-week trip together — and with three of Lexy’s roommates — and once Tatiana left to return to the United States, Tatiana couldn’t stop thinking about her. “One thing led to another, and now we’ve been together for three and a half years,” says Lexy.
For Tatiana, there was no one moment of realization that Lexy was her person; instead, there are many moments where she falls in love all over again. A recent trip to the Catskills held one such moment after the couple pulled off the road to take pictures with the view. “She kept making me laugh, carrying me on her shoulders and I just had major heart eyes,” says Tatiana. “I fell in love with her all over again in this moment.”
Lexy’s moment, however, was in Amsterdam during a backpacking trip in Europe. While walking through the city at night, they found themselves on a bridge over a canal, with the city lights twinkling behind them. Looking up, she saw Tatiana’s “bright smile and those big, blue, beautiful eyes.” “I was looking out and I remember thinking that this is the best moment of my entire life,” says Lexy. “This moment is what authors write about, what directors try to capture in movies. What I had in my hands was the best gift I could have asked for.”
The two started Gfswhotravel, an Instagram account following their relationship and life, though the pandemic over the last year has put it mostly on hold. Mostly they have been working on their new careers and binge-watching TV. The extra time has also taught them that there’s nothing they can’t do together, and they’ve grown to enjoy the small and humble moments. “We are truthfully so lucky, and our story and our love for each other keeps growing as we do together,” says Lexy.
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