Like many people of a certain age, we met the modern way: on the internet! Stephanie liked Eric’s profile first, and Eric sent the first message. Our first date was at Tatte in Dupont Circle, and what was supposed to be a just coffee date turned into a four-hour marathon conversation. We completely lost track of time, ignored the cafe crowd, and immediately knew we had found something incredibly special.

One of the things we share most is our deep love for travel, especially our adventures in Japan. Because of that, a proposal in Kyoto made perfect sense. After months of secret research, Eric thought he had found the absolute perfect location—the only problem was, hundreds of tourists thought so, too! On our final night in Kyoto, we found ourselves strolling through the historic Gion district after dinner. As Eric desperately scanned the crowds for a quiet, private moment, Stephanie's back was starting to ache from all the walking. Just when we needed a sign, a quiet pond near a lantern-lit pagoda appeared out of nowhere, entirely empty. There, in a place we both adore, Eric asked and Stephanie said yes, committing ourselves to each other forever.