A couple who were unknowingly baptized next to each other as babies tell how they got married in the same place 27 years later.
Savannah and Isaac Montoya, both 31, were six and three months old when they were baptized in 1992 at San Miguel Church in their hometown of Las Cruces, New Mexico.
Their families did not know each other, but they ended up attending the same church because it specialized in group baptisms.
Unbeknownst to them, their baptized babies would later cross paths, fall in love and get engaged in November 2018.
Savannah and Isaac Montoya, both 31, married in September 2019 at San Miguel Church in their hometown of Las Cruces, New Mexico
The couple was unknowingly baptized side by side in church in 1992
Savannah was planning her wedding when she came across old photos and saw a familiar face in the background of her baptism: her fiancé
Savannah, a banker, was in the middle of wedding planning when she came across old photos and saw a familiar face in the background of her baptism: her fiancé.
Shocked and overjoyed, the couple realized that they had “met” years earlier, when they were baptized side by side.
“Being locked up in a church was one of the last pieces of our marriage puzzle,” Savannah explained.
“So we decided to get our baptism pictures out, and there was Isaac and (I) standing side by side for sure.
'I immediately burst into happy tears. We couldn't believe it, and neither could our families.
“When you grow up in the same area, there's always a possibility of crossover, but it's rare that one comes this close.”
The couple said the surprising connection made their wedding “extra special because it was meant to be.”
“I was already ecstatic to be marrying my husband, but this made it ten times more exciting, and we shared the news with our guests prior to the wedding,” Savannah said.
Savannah and Isaac's paths only crossed again when they ended up in the same group of friends in 2011. They were both 20 when they started dating a year later (photo in 2012)
'One day I saw Isaac differently. I thought, “Oh, maybe I like him,” Savannah said. 'Luckily he agreed and we started dating'
After six years of dating, Isaac, a heavy equipment operator, popped the question to Savannah, and they got engaged in November 2018.
'I was always a bit skeptical about invisible string theory, but our story shows that it exists.'
Despite attending the same elementary school, Savannah and Isaac's paths didn't cross again until they ended up in the same group of friends in 2011.
They were both 20 and single when they started dating a year later.
'One day I saw Isaac differently. I thought, “Oh, maybe I like him,” Savannah said. 'Luckily he agreed, and we started dating.
“We were both avid travelers and very family-oriented, and so we both knew it was forever.”
After six years of dating, Isaac, a heavy equipment operator, popped the question to Savannah, and they got engaged in November 2018.
Over the moon, they quickly got to work planning their wedding and discovered the magical photo of their first meeting as a baby.
In September 2019, Savannah and Isaac got married in front of 350 guests in the same month and church they were baptized in 27 years earlier
The couple told their guests how they first 'met' in church. “It made it extra special to walk down the aisle, and there wasn't a dry eye in the house,” Savannah said
In June 2023, four years after their wedding, the couple welcomed their first child, Isaac Matthew Montoya, now six months old.
“We're going to have him baptized, hopefully in the same church, because we'd like to continue the tradition,” Savannah said.
In September 2019, Savannah and Isaac were married in front of 350 guests in the same month and church they were baptized in 27 years earlier.
“It made it extra special to walk down the aisle, and there wasn't a dry eye in the house,” Savannah said. 'But after the ceremony there was a party.
“We had a traditional Mexican wedding, including the reception, the after party and the after-after party the day after.”
In June 2023, four years after their wedding, the couple welcomed their first child, Isaac Matthew Montoya, now six months old.
“We're going to have him baptized, hopefully in the same church, because we like to continue the tradition,” Savannah said.
“It's safe to say if we do that, I'll be taking so many pictures.
'Who knows? Maybe Isaac will meet his future husband.”