Bernardo and Sarah met on Friday, August 10, 2018 when Bernardo came home from work and found Sarah in his living room. Sarah was at the house to support a friend who also lived there (thank you Ben!), and Bernardo took an interest in Sarah almost as soon as he saw her. He was definitely smitten when he heard her speak. The timing wasn't ideal for Sarah and Bernardo, but fate had quietly set their lives on a new trajectory. For years after, Bernardo and Sarah would cross paths-- always friendly, never too deep, but often with a dangerous hint of chemistry. Fast-forward to May 2021: A large circle of friends came together for a trip in celebration of getting past the worst of the Covid pandemic. During this trip, the chemistry reemerged between Sarah and Bernardo-- now undeniable. Whether from the Vegas drinks or his ridiculous streak of beginner's luck at craps, Bernardo got bold. That night he finally confessed to Sarah just how attractive and cool he had always found her, and stated that whenever she was ready, he would love to take her out on a date and see where things go. Sarah, of course, reciprocated interest (since Bernardo's so suave and so cool). The timing was still not right for them, but Sarah and Bernardo talked about what a future relationship might look like. Things seemed like they could be quite good. In the following months, after the completion of his first master's program, Bernardo took a road trip through the United States, giving Sarah plenty of distance. Sarah, meanwhile, took her own journey of self-discovery. At the end of the summer, the two of them reconnected in Orange County. They started dating in August 2021, to finally "see where things go," though Sarah was still not quite ready for a relationship. After several weeks, though (an agonizing wait for Bernardo), Sarah decided she was ready to make things official. Sarah planned an enchanting evening on October 11, 2021-- with flowers, dinner, and a touch of nerves... and that night Sarah found herself lingering until after midnight to take the daunting step of asking Bernardo to be her boyfriend. Around 12:30am on October 12th (once Bernardo had given up hope and was ready to go to sleep), Sarah finally asked, and Bernardo said yes. This pivotal moment turned into a cherished memory, and October 12 became the day Sarah and Bernardo celebrate their official anniversary. A few months later, Bernardo received a great job offer in Northern California, and in May 2022, Bernardo and Sarah moved to the Bay Area. San Jose has since become an incredibly meaningful place for them, where they have built a life together with their two cats, Simon and Mila. Sarah and Bernardo’s adventure continued with travels around the globe. In October 2024, they embarked on a long-awaited international trip to Vietnam with many of the same friends from the house in which Sarah and Bernardo met. One week into that trip, in the captivating mountains of Sa Pa at a spot known as Heaven’s Gate, Bernardo surprised Sarah by dropping to one knee and proposing… and now, Sarah said yes. This was on their 3rd year anniversary: October 12, 2024. Our love story has been a tale woven with spontaneity, resilience, and remarkable moments that lead us to our very special wedding day. As this story comes full circle, we are ecstatic to mark the next chapter of our journey. We've chosen October 11 as our wedding date –a day that resonates with our beginnings– and we cannot wait to celebrate with all of those who have played key parts in our lives. Love, Sarah and Bernardo