Amber and Ry met through mutual friends almost 8 years ago. Amber was working at Zynga with Thomas, Shan, and John (among other lifelong friends) and Thomas started bringing Ry to events. Though Ry claims that Amber ignored him the first couple of times they met we all know that she's just awkward and when forced to go to parties she looks at dogs on instagram most of the time. Ry then enlisted the help of Thomas, Shan, and John to set up an event or two where Amber would be forced to interact. Eventually (after Napa trips, shabu, and karaoke) Amber was no longer able to ignore Ry. Her friends continued to plot with Ry and helped him set up their first couple of dates. From there, Ry's charm, kindness, elaborate mystery dates, and above average looks did the rest of the work. They've been bickering, traveling, loving each other since then. 2.5 years ago they also added Nugget to their family as well. He's the best boy!

Amber and Ry’s first date took place over New Mexican Food at Green Chile Kitchen in San Francisco, followed by several hours of walking around Golden Gate Park. Neither remembers why Green Chile Kitchen was chosen, but it’s possibly because it had tasty food, was quiet enough to have a conversation, and offered reasonable means of escape should anything go wrong. Both remember that only Ry had the horchata, and that Amber didn’t trust the weird yogurt drink from this strange man. The two became less of strangers of each other during the subsequent two hour walk. They only decided to turn around at the beautiful San Francisco Botanical Gardens due to the chilly SF microclimate. When preparing for the proposal, Ry decided he wanted three things: surprise, for them to be dressed up, and a recreation of that first date. Those things are hard to do in combination, so he needed to be sneaky… Ry is a nerd. He also likes space. Amber is less of a nerd, but likes that Ry is a nerd. Ry used these facts to his advantage. Ry created fake emails--actually rewriting the emails’ HTML and redesigning them--announcing that Harvard Business School was hosting a special viewing of a space rock at the De Young Museum. Attendees would need to dress for a champagne toast after viewing this “life-changing stone.” Ry sprinkled lots of little hints like this, including “We hope you say yes to this proposal.” He is devious. The subterfuge was in place.

After letting Amber sleep in—which rarely happens since Ry gets up at like 6am, even on the weekends—the two set off in their suit and dress to the park. Because the event wasn’t until the afternoon, Ry suggested they stop at Green Chile Kitchen as it was on the one. Amber had the horchata. Signs were good. Instead of taking Ry’s cherry red Vespa into the park, they decided to walk instead. Ry took them on the same path as their first date. Amber was surprised Ry wasn’t trying to be first to the space rock event. He was acting like a weird nerd now. Instead of turning towards the De Young, Ry steered them toward the botanical gardens. He had picked the perfect, picturesque proposal position in front of the beautiful glass dome of the indoor gardens… But—blast—the site was occupied by a bizarre troop of people dressed up in medieval outfits playing flutes, jingling bells, and dancing. This was not part of the plan. San Francisco is a strange place. Ry had to think quick and instead steered them towards a beautiful bench a short distance away. Amber was surprised again that Ry wanted to sit instead of running to the space rock. Ry asked her to check her bag quickly for something he left there. She was surprised to find a brown paper bag with “Amber’s Emergency Kit” written on the side—a throwback to their second date where Ry took Amber to Oakland for ice cream. It was filled with many of her favorite things like red Starbursts and juice boxes. Ry said that this was her last chance to take the emergency bag and run, before she turned around and saw him crying on one knee with a ring in hand.

She said yes :)