Ethan Erik Elkins and Rudy Lynn Portillo Jr. first connected through the dating app Bumble in October 2016, embarking on what both now regard as their initial date, though they differ on the exact event. Elkins recalls a picnic at Zilker Metropolitan Park in Austin, Texas, while Portillo remembers meeting for breakfast at Austin Java that same weekend. Regardless of which moment they consider their official start, the two agree that the meetings marked the beginning of a meaningful relationship.
At the time, Elkins was a sophomore at the University of Texas at Austin, living off campus and casually dating, while Portillo, working as a consultant for a credit reporting agency and living with roommates in central Austin, was primarily seeking enjoyment. Their first encounters, spanning breakfast and a subsequent picnic, lasted several hours and revealed shared interests including a fondness for pop star Ariana Grande, high fashion, post-Impressionist art, and a mutual aspiration to eventually own corgi dogs and relocate to New York City.
Following that weekend, their relationship grew rapidly. Elkins frequently visited Portillo’s apartment, where they alternated cooking meals and exploring Austin’s dining and nightlife scenes, often accompanied by friends. A few weeks later, Portillo introduced Elkins as his boyfriend during a birthday happy hour, marking a significant step in their partnership.
Elkins, 29, has roots in Suzhou, China, and Tyler, Texas. He graduated early from the University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and currently serves as managing partner at DADA Goldberg, a New York-based public relations firm specializing in cultural institutions and design brands. Portillo, 34, grew up in Odessa and Lubbock, Texas, earned a biology degree from the University of Texas at Austin, and now works remotely as director of channel partner sales for Inspira Financial, headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois.
The couple’s shared dream of living in New York City began to materialize after a December 2017 visit to Manhattan, where they immersed themselves in cultural experiences such as attending “The Nutcracker” at Lincoln Center and walking through Central Park. Shortly after, they added a corgi puppy named Pablo to their household in June 2018, sourced through their social network.
In July 2018, Elkins and Portillo relocated to a small studio apartment in SoHo. While the space was modest, the couple embraced their new life in the city. Elkins secured a position at a public relations firm, and Portillo transitioned to remote work. By the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, they had solidified their commitment to one another.
In November 2022, Portillo commenced his current role with Inspira Financial. By June 2024, the couple had moved to a larger apartment in West Chelsea. That summer, conversations about marriage began, leading to an engagement marked by Portillo selecting a gold panther ring from Cartier’s Hudson Yards location.
During a vacation to Madeira, Portugal, Portillo surprised Elkins with a proposal from their hotel balcony. The couple wed on August 28 in Manhattan’s Marriage Bureau, officiated by city clerk Jenny Mendez, with two friends present. They celebrated their marriage with an intimate dinner at Le Bernardin in Midtown Manhattan, fulfilling a longstanding dining aspiration.