July 8, 2018. Brian and Vanessa met. Two of their friends set them up on kind of a blind date. They met in Carson and it was relatively brief. Their conversation topics were general and pretty lighthearted. As the night came to a close, Brian walked Vanessa to her car and asked for her phone number. The very next day they texted, all day. Brian was attentive and Vanessa was responsive. The conversation was easy and it didn't feel forced. Brian asked Vanessa out on a date just three days after they met. They went to BJ's Brewery and they spent the entire time talking and swapping stories over pizza. Brian and Vanessa spent weeks going out and getting to know each other. They talked a lot. No conversation topic was off limits. Early on, Brian noted how well they communicated. Their conversations were effortless and organic. During their talks Vanessa appreciated how talkative Brian was. Vanessa enjoyed meeting someone who was just as curious and insightful as she was. October 4, 2018. Vanessa was hanging out at Brian's apartment. They were sitting on his sofa and she was talking about her plans for Halloween. Brian asked Vanessa if she would cancel her plans to spend Halloween with him. Vanessa said in her own sassy kind of way, "No, you're not my boyfriend." Brian looked at Vanessa and smiled saying, "Vanessa, I'm not going to stop pursuing you. I want you to be my girlfriend." July 5, 2020. By this point, Vanessa and Brian knew each other for almost two years. It was Brian's birthday. Marissa, Brian's mom and Helena, Brian's daughter were in town visiting from Texas. Cassandra, Vanessa's mom suggested playing Scrabble. Marissa put the word "WHEEL" down first. Cassandra put "EWE" down next. Brian spelled a strange word "MAREME." Vanessa challenged the word. Brian asked her to read the entire board. She read it aloud and became overwhelmed with emotion. That day Brian asked Vanessa to be his wife. He said she was the best gift he could ever ask for.