We did it!

SueJie and Ian met in the rarest of modern ways: in person, at a museum — with photos and timestamps to prove it. In the fall of 2017, SueJie was at home on the weekend from Pepperdine, and her high school friend Shajeeah invited her to a last-minute visit to Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirror Rooms at The Broad. Right before entering, they were told the exhibit required groups of three or four - and Ian, a Northrop Grumman coworker of Shajeeah’s, volunteered to join. They wandered through mirrored rooms, took photos of one another, and unknowingly captured the very beginning of something big. SueJie’s first impression of Ian was… confusing. He joined her and Shajeeah for dinner uninvited and spent an impressive amount of time processing a recent breakup. Ian’s first impression, on the other hand, was much simpler: "Who’s this cute, fun friend of Shajeeah’s?" Despite their very different takes on the evening, the three of them started a group chat that quickly became SueJie’s favorite notification — and Ian’s emotional openness, kindness, and willingness to try anything slowly won her over.

Over time, they discovered what makes them work: SueJie’s clarity and Ian’s color. SueJie brings direction and grounding. Ian brings emotion and curiosity - but they both bring endless conversation. SueJie loves the way Ian loves her — with patience, softness, and an unwavering desire to make her happy, especially when her patience is already spent. Ian loves that he never gets bored talking to SueJie. Ian proposed on November 6, 2024 — the day after a long, emotionally heavy election. SueJie almost canceled date night, unaware that Ian was trying his best to orchestrate the perfect evening. After a full evening of near-misses, misunderstandings, hunger, and impeccable timing, Ian finally got down on one knee outside Salt & Straw — upside-down ring box and all. SueJie doesn’t remember what he said, but she remembers crying, laughing, and saying, “Yes!” Everything in SueJie’s life feels like “them” now - good food, cozy nights in, ambitious DIY projects, and last-minute plans that somehow come together. They procrastinate, they overcommit, but they always get it done. Whether it’s reupholstering furniture, navigating fitness phases, or planning a wedding in just 3 months and 14 days, they approach life with teamwork, humor, and a shared belief that things will work out - especially if they’re doing it together.