In Photos: Michelle Barrera's Surprise Engagement To Santi Juban Will Make Your Heart Flutter
She's declared him her answered prayer, while he calls her his future, Mrs. Juban-to-be.
And if the nicknames sound sweeter than your usual couple petnames, that's because they're the new labels Michelle Barrera and Santi Juban have given each other now that they're engaged!
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The moment Santi dropped down to one knee, Michelle was the most surprised as she could be.
He told her they would be participating in a prenup-esque shoot for a photographer friend Jose Pleno, successfully concealing the fact that it was, indeed, their own prenup and that a proposal would wrap up the day.
Despite having dreamt of the day that she and Santi would officially begin their journey to wedded bliss, the few seconds it took for her to make sense of the scene unfolding before her eyes were some she could never have prepared herself for. Nonetheless, Michelle loved every bit of the surprise and penned the most heartfelt message on Instagram that put the day's feelings into words.
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Emphasizing how Santi was God's plan for her manifested, Michelle truly believes that their relationship was a product of perfectly timed divine intervention. She recalls how, when she was younger, prayed and prayed to be blessed with a partner who shared her values and would reflect all the qualities she loved about her own father.
But with the arrival of Santi in her life, she was given something much more than she had ever hoped to find.
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The equestrian bride-to-be wrote, "Yesterday, the love of my life sent me into a field with his favorite horse. Busy with the shoot he told me we were doing for a friend, I had no idea what was happening behind me. As he played our song, I thought 'wow. Sentimental'. Then his horse freaked out, and I turned around. Nothing and no one could have prepared me for what happened next."
"With his entire family lined up behind him, there he was. My answered prayer...with the BIGGEST sign (thanks God, I got the message) draped on my horse. I’m a little dense, so it only really clicked when he got down on one knee... what he said next needs no words. I am going to spend the rest of my life with a man who is far better than what I asked God for—You outdid Yourself when You made @syjuban ???? Thank you, my love, for making this moment so memorable and special with both our families," she continued.
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Her fiancee and fellow animal-lover Santi also had his own thoughts to share about the milestone that redefined who they are as a couple.
"I wouldn't change the past that led me to you. I cannot think of a better present than being with you and I could not imagine of a better tomorrow knowing that I will grow old with you. I am excited for what is to come," he shared.
The couple's friends and family were quick to congratulate them on the extra special occasion, with Santi's own mom expressing excitement over Michelle becoming her daughter-in-law and all the corny jokes, faith-driven lives, and future schildren, they'll bond over soon.
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Looking back at how they started out—as friends not originally intending to fall in love, but doing so anyway by the grace of God and because nothing felt more natural than deepening an already boundless love—Michelle and Santi's future as Mr. and Mrs. is certainly bright, full of love, and something we can't wait to see unfold.
Congratulations to the happy couple!
Check out Michelle and Santi's complete messages to each other below!
Images from @michellecbarrera @syjuban
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