Marcel’s original plan was simply to take some photos from the top of the Dom Luís I bridge in Porto, but he ended up as the savior of the city’s honor right in the middle of Sara’s tour group. Marcel’s career as an unofficial tour guide began with a protest: he just had to intervene when he overheard clueless tourists talking down the old town. However, he hadn't accounted for Sara, who was part of that very group. Before Marcel could finish his full lecture about the other side of the river, she charmingly countered: "It's not tiny—just more manageable than Lisbon!" The "expert" hadn't seen that coming—and suddenly, the city's panorama became a side note. A few glasses of Port wine at Offley later, it was clear: the chemistry was right. The plan for the evening was set—a big dinner together with the whole crew.

Marcel didn’t want to leave anything to chance. To make a lasting impression on Sara, he raced home to Amares for an hour: shower, change of clothes, pulling the "best version of himself" out of the closet. But fate had other plans. Of all people, he—Mister Punctuality himself—got stuck behind schedule. With a 30-minute delay and fading hope, he wandered through the alleys of Porto. He was just about to give up when, at the very last restaurant on the street, he spotted a familiar smile… The group was still there! Instead of a goodbye, there was a promise: we’ll meet again tomorrow—right here in Porto. Nobody guessed at that moment that this next meeting would soon turn into a much greater journey...

Together with Adrien, a friend from the tour group, Sara and Marcel made their way south—through Lisbon all the way to the sunny Algarve. At the Youth Hostel in Portimão, the journey reached its magical climax. Whether it was the balmy night, the relief of their reunion, or perhaps the sweet carob liqueur they enjoyed together that evening—suddenly, everything became clear. There, on floor cushions during a movie, the last doubts faded away, and they shared their first kiss. In that moment, they were both completely smitten...

... saying goodbye was incredibly hard for both of them, but Marcel's parents had to head back to Switzerland. After a 2,300 km drive across Europe, Marcel had technically reached his destination: home in Eastern Switzerland. But without Sara, "home" felt wrong. So, what do you do when you don't want to lose the woman of your life? Exactly: you drive the entire distance back, immediately. The strategy: fill up the tank, a pit stop at McDonald's in Abtwil for the necessary energy (a BigMac and 20 nuggets are a must!), and back on the road. His father felt it instantly: this goodbye to Sara was not the end. Barely after Marcel had crossed the Swiss border, his phone vibrated. He was just about to enter France when his father's message lit up the screen. No reproach, no long questions. He simply asked: "Where are you already?" He had known all along... A crazy plan? Maybe. But for Sara, no distance was too far.

Marcel knew he didn’t have a second to lose. Sara was set to leave her grandparents' house the next day to head to Lisbon—a moment he couldn't miss under any circumstances if he didn't want to lose track of her forever. So, he went full throttle, literally! 2,300 kilometers of pure focus on the goal. And fate rewarded his commitment: arriving in Portugal, they actually found each other again just in time and spent a few more wonderful days together. But the greatest adventure was yet to come. When Sara's vacation came to an end after a week, she made a brave decision: instead of getting on the plane, she got into Marcel's car to take the long journey back together. To top it all off, she made a choice that changed everything: she moved straight in with Marcel in Effretikon. A holiday fling had turned into a lifetime together.

On a picture-perfect day, we rented a boat to explore the hidden snorkeling spots around Diaporos Island. The water was crystal clear, the mood was perfect. After a dive, Marcel suddenly surfaced with a small wooden box, pretending he had found this treasure in the sea. Sara, being the soul of kindness, was shocked at first and could hardly believe that someone would just throw away something so valuable—until the penny dropped. Inside the box, a gold ring sparkled, and Marcel asked the question of all questions, which Sara answered with a sobbing "Yes!".

On Monday, October 21, at 11:37 PM, the time had finally come: Tiago saw the light of day and made our happiness as a small family complete. But we couldn't stand the cold for long. As soon as the little one held his first passport in his hands, we were drawn to far-off lands. At just two months old, we braved the 11-hour flight to Trinidad & Tobago and then to Barbados. We will never forget the skeptical look of our German seat neighbor on the plane—but Tiago proved everyone wrong. He was calmness itself, enjoyed the trip without a single tear, and even earned high praise from the lady upon landing in Scarborough: "You’re doing everything exactly right!" This trip was more than just a holiday; it was our chance to get to know each other as a trio under the palm trees. We enjoyed the sun, the effortlessness, and the pride of having mastered our first big adventure as a three-piece so well. When Tiago felt the ocean on his tiny feet for the first time, it became clear to us: we have brought a little explorer’s heart into the world. It was to be the official starting signal for many, many more journeys that still lie ahead of us!

August 22, 2026
... but most of all, we are looking forward to celebrating our wedding with you on a beautiful summer day at the beach in Portugal and enjoying life to the fullest. Let’s toast to love together and spend an unforgettable day!