We’re getting married!We’re getting married!

Before they were even properly introduced by mutual friends, Michael messaged Aja on Instagram and asked her out. Dinner at Kona Grill turned into ice cream, and ice cream turned into hours of walking and talking in the park. Somewhere between the laughs and conversations, he told her he had turned his phone off and left it in the car just to focus on her—and in that moment, Aja knew he was the one. Years later, she learned that those smooth messaging skills weren’t entirely Michael’s— it turns out his best man, Melvin, had been helping him message Aja because he was so nervous to ask her out at first.

The first time Michael asked Aja on a date, she told him that she wouldn’t date him. The next time he asked Aja to be his girlfriend… and she said no again. Turns out, he just wasn’t asking the right question. The third time, Michael asked Aja to be his wife—and this time, she said yes!

Michael told Aja he had a work dinner they had to attend for his boss—something that had been planned months in advance, so there was no getting out of it. (Looking back… that should’ve been the first clue because Michael doesn’t plan anything.) When they got there, Michael even made sure to lecture Aja to be nice to his coworkers as his boss was going to be present. They walked down to the beach where he said they were going to take a team photo. Out of nowhere, he stopped and said that they weren’t going anymore. Confused, Aja turned around—and to her surprise, he was down on one knee. He had planned everything so perfectly, even having his friend there secretly capturing the moment. On the beach, completely caught off guard (and slightly confused about the fake dinner), he asked Aja to spend forever with him… and of course, she said yes!