Forever Starts Here

We first met on August 18th, 2023. Guru remembers picking up Serene, and the first thing he noticed was her outgoing & bubbly personality. The first thing he hears is "Hi! I'm Serene!" To him, her voice carried a warm, melodic tone. (It would be a couple weeks before Guru learnt the reason: Serene is a singer). Serene's first memory of Guru was his golden retriever energy and contagious personality. Our car ride to our first date included comparing whose running playlist was better (up for debate but Serene's playlist was better) and Serene learning that Guru's favorite breakfast included a good ole dosa with some masala powder. Our first date was at a little alley bar named Calico. At Calico, the conversation evolved from seeing who could beat who in a game of Connect 4 (still very much contested) to each of us learning how the other complemented each other's personality. The hours flew by as we laughed and talked, and eventually Guru had to drop Serene off. As we were driving back, Guru was thinking of ways to see Serene again. He slowly brought up how he hadn't explored DC's food scene. Serene immediately took the lead, and suggested a dinner spot at one of her favorite spots: Laos in Town in NoMa. We said our goodbyes for the night, and immediately told our friends about the night. We both knew that this was potentially our last first date :) During the second date, at Laos in Town, Guru brought a deck of cards to play a get-to-know-you game over food. As we played, Serene watched Guru's big heart come through. For those who know Serene, they know how much she values honest and deep conversations. The way Guru listened intently, asked thoughtful questions, and laughed generously at her stories made her feel truly seen. His humor, dry and quick, kept her smiling all night. It was after that night and more moments together that we both realized that we were falling for each other. Three years later, and it still feels just as fresh as it did on that warm August night. We are so grateful and excited to share our wedding festivities alongside our close friends and family. Cheers to many more memories!