Match Made on METRO

When Holly Montealvo laid eyes on Charles McGuirk while riding the METRORail Red Line, she knew she was going to spend the rest of her life with him. Holly didn’t expect to find love while riding the METRORail to RodeoHouston in 2023, it was one of those “right-place, right-time” scenarios. 

She wasted no time approaching him to strike up a conversation. Holly said hello, initiated some small talk with Charles, and immediately noticed his British accent. She was even more smitten and asked how old he was. When he answered, she said, “So you're old enough to be my husband!” Charles was flattered, and more than that, lovestruck. Since then, the two have been inseparable and are tying the knot this November.

They’ve met each other’s families, Charles received the blessing of Holly’s father, and Holly had her nails done just in time for Charles to slip a gorgeous teardrop engagement ring on her left hand. With the proposal complete, the wedding preparations could begin. When Holly and Charles started sending out save-the-dates, they remembered to mail one to METRO too. As the couple explained, if it weren’t for METRO acting as matchmaker, their love story would have never begun. 

“We were on a train of all places, and I had no idea I’d be meeting the love of my life that day,” Charles said. “We thought it would be wonderful to include METRO as part of our wedding.”

The save-the-date card read: “We couldn’t let our special day happen without reaching out to thank you for our Houston Hallmark love story. Thanks for being part of what makes Houston feel like home.” 

When the Communications team received Holly and Charles’ save-the-date, the office buzzed with excitement. The card’s sweet shout-out to METRO had staffers grinning and swapping ideas on how to show appreciation for being invited into the couple’s special day and proudly recognized as the “matchmaker” that brought them together. After a flurry of brainstorming (and more than a few happy squeals), the team landed on the perfect idea: gifting Holly and Charles an engagement photo shoot on the Red Line, right where their love story began. 

To make the day even more special, the photographer was one of METRO’s own, longtime staff member and professional photographer Eddy Enriquez. With more than 20 years behind the lens, Enriquez has built a career capturing life’s most important milestones. “It was an honor to represent METRO and capture such an important moment for a lovely couple,” he said. “To know their story began on the METRORail and to photograph them right where it all started was something truly memorable for me as well.”

The connection between the two is so genuine, you can’t help but say, “Awww” when you see them together. Even in a rail car full of riders, Charles only had eyes for Holly, and Holly’s smile was reserved for Charles. Holly and Charles agreed that taking their photos on the METRORail is a memory they’ll cherish for the rest of their lives.

“We really wanted METRO to be included because without METRO we wouldn’t have fallen in love,” Holly said. “We had to extend our gratitude to METRO because if it weren’t for the METRORail, I wouldn’t have met the love of my life.”