A story 15 years in the making!

David and Michelle started innocently enough. They met in the summer before their senior year of high school and there was immediate chemistry. David had been on a few dates with Michelle’s best friend at the time, but Michelle knew he could do better. She would bake Dave cookies and pioneered sliding in the DM (aka slipping notes into his locker). They took their relationship to the next level when they started talking on the phone. Yep, literally the phone. They’d call each other from their parents' landlines and talk for hours. At first David was nervous they wouldn’t have anything to talk about, but once he discovered Michelle was a die hard Niners fan, his nervousness disappeared. They officially started dating October 21, 2002 at a party at Gabby’s house after Michelle suggested they go look at the moon together. What a moon it was.

Senior year passed in a blur. David was going to college at UC Davis, Michelle at UC Santa Barbara. They made the seemingly prudent decision to break up so they could go their separate ways. However the heart has no use for prudent decision making. Parting for college was one of their saddest times together. #41 by Dave Matthews Band still gives David all the feels from that moment. Michelle soon figured out that Santa Barbara was not the best fit for her. She transferred to Davis after her freshman year because of their superior bio program (and she still sticks to that story to this day). In college, they would occasionally hang out, while also trying to maintain distance as they had prudently agreed would be best. It was a fight against inevitability, but it did provide them with the perspective they would need.

After college they both moved back to the Bay Area. Michelle started her career in PT, David in real estate. Having had their time apart and realizing how special their bond was, there was no point in denying their obvious connection any longer. David asked Michelle out on a hike on January 2, 2009 and they kicked off a new chapter in their relationship. They eventually moved in together when David took a new job and moved to San Francisco. Michelle had just completed her physical therapy grad school program and also started a new job in SF. The transition to living together was seamless as they knew it would be. Always the practical thinkers, they continued to build their lives together while holding off on any decisions on marriage despite the numerous questions from eager family and friends. David wasn’t sure if he wanted to get married, but he did know that he wanted to be with Michelle for the rest of his life. What a romantic.

Never sure of when he would get married, David always knew how he wanted to propose to Michelle. David made his decision in November and after checking the forecast, asked Michelle to go to brunch with his family on December 10, 2017 in Oakland. He then started planning. On the morning of the 10th, Michelle woke up and got ready for a classy brunch looking as beautiful as ever. On the way over to Oakland from San Francisco, David received a call from his mom informing him that his grandmother was not feeling well and brunch would have to be canceled. How unfortunate that we had just crossed the bridge! David suggested going hiking since it was such a clear and sunny day and Michelle loved the idea. David took Michelle on one of their favorite trails in the park next to where he grew up. It was the same trail on which David asked Michelle out again after college. They soon arrived at a clearing with some picnic benches. To Michelle’s surprise she saw someone who looked like David’s dad sitting at a picnic bench. Then she saw her brother. And was that her mom, running towards her? Confused, Michelle hugged her mom while trying to process this odd coincidence. When she turned to ask David what was going on, he was already on one knee. There were a few moments neither author can clearly recall, but once they returned from the moon, Michelle officially accepted David’s proposal and they celebrated with their families who had gathered at the picnic bench. After some champagne, lots of hugs, and some gratuitous photos, David asked Michelle what she wanted to do next. To his surprise, Michelle immediately replied that if it was okay with everyone else, she would like to keep hiking. And so they continued their hike together. They revisited the spot in the park where David had asked Michelle out. They relived their past years together reveling in all the lead up to this moment. They hiked for hours, laughing, crying tears of joy, never wanting the moment to end.

We are so excited to share the rest of our lives together and can't wait to celebrate the start of this new chapter with you at our wedding!!!