It all began with a swipe. In the spring of 2022, we matched on Tinder, kind of on a lark. Ashish had almost given up on dating and Stephen had just come out of a serious relationship – so this was anything but certain. Our first date was at Piedmont Park, and it was supposed to be short and sweet – just a casual meetup, maybe a walk, feel it out. But five hours later, we were still there, deep in conversation, with a feeling that this could be something serious. The early days were a blur of excitement, too much food, and a steady stream of introductions – to each other's friends, communities, and families. Ashish learned that Stephen organizes most everything and Stephen discovered that Ashish will re-watch episodes of Friends indefinitely and still laugh every time. By the time the holidays arrived, we both knew: this wasn’t just a phase or a fling. This was something real, something solid. What began as excitement and butterflies turned into a steady rhythm of shared life—traveling together, doing laundry together, and figuring out how to care for each other through both the magical and the mundane. Over time, our bond deepened. We saw each other at our best – and our most sleep deprived. We learned to laugh through misunderstandings, cheer each other on through milestones, and make space for hard conversations with kindness and honesty. Travel has been a constant in our relationship, providing us with opportunities to explore culture in places like Japan, Italy, Mexico and Cambodia. Now, a few years in, we feel we’ve found something rare: someone we can be fully ourselves with, without shrinking, without pretending. As we take this next big step, we’re incredibly grateful for the family and friends who’ve supported us along the way—cheering us on, showing up, and loving us through it all. We’re so excited to celebrate this new chapter with the people who make the story so much richer!