—I choose you again and again, in every lifetime.—

Our story started as many modern day romances do—with two hopeful millennials swiping right. Ben swiped because he found Lani’s profile sweet and liked her cute storm trooper photo from Disney World. “Artist and animal lover. Nintendo-loving, tree-hugging 90’s kid.” Lani swiped because she thought Ben was very handsome and found his short profile funny and endearing. “I’ll cook!” After many weeks of Ben trying to ask Lani out, we finally went out for tacos and margaritas. One hunt for Lani’s lost cell phone and a few rounds of Mario Kart later, we ended the night with a kiss—both of us secretly smitten with the other. We didn’t know it then, but it was precisely this mix of down-to-earth simplicity and shared passions that would spark the most special love each of us have ever known—one that is safe and sustaining, deep but not heavy, one that will last the rest of our lives.

We’ve known for a few years that we were going to marry soon, but Ben did a great job of keeping his plans for proposal under wraps. In January, we decided to treat ourselves to a staycation here in Birmingham. With our puppy heading off to board & train for a few weeks it was the perfect opportunity to rent a swanky loft apartment on Morris Avenue for the weekend. Lani didn’t know Ben had other plans for the occasion. We were so excited to share the first night with Ben’s sweet siblings. We had the best time with Katie, Sarah, and Sam, chatting at the pizza place below the apartment and playing board games until we were all too tired to keep laughing. Lani suspected Ben may propose that night but when no ring appeared she had put the thought out of her mind. We woke up the next morning and had the most relaxing day exploring our home city like tourists. It was that evening when Ben decided to surprise Lani with the most stunning proposal on the balcony overlooking the city lights. According to Ben, he took a knee with the setting sun over his shoulder and told Lani “I can’t imagine going through life with anyone else.” In honesty, Lani can’t remember much of the proposal because she was so nervous and excited but trusts that it was absolutely perfect. Ben was actually equally nervous, as proven when Lani’s dad pointed out over FaceTime that he had actually put the ring on the wrong hand. Truthfully, we wouldn’t have had it any other way as nothing is very on-brand for us if we can’t laugh about it later.