Austin and Ashley first met in February 2022, just weeks before Nova's opening weekend, during one of Ashley’s 12+ hour casting calls. Austin came by for an interview, and she couldn’t help but notice him, thinking, “Who’s that? He’s cute! His last name is Korean, but he doesn’t really look Korean?” Though they worked at the same place, their paths rarely crossed, leaving little opportunity to connect. On April 20th, they had their first “date” (in quotations because Ashley thought they were just friends, and Austin wasn’t keen on dating his boss). They watched the sunset at Sunset Cliffs and ended the evening with Korean food. Both left the night feeling intrigued but hesitant to take things further. It wasn’t until about a month later, after Austin decided to leave his job at Nova, that they planned their second date—and the rest is history.

Austin had never been to South Korea, and it had been years since Ashley's last visit. When Ashley’s mom planned a trip, the couple decided to join her, making it the perfect opportunity for something extraordinary. Six months before their vacation, Austin secretly reached out to a family jeweler (hi Harvey!) to design the perfect ring. He also coordinated with a local photographer in South Korea to plan the most romantic proposal. Despite Ashley’s hopes, Austin kept his plans entirely hidden, leaving her with no idea of what was to come. On April 12, Austin, ever the brilliant planner, told Ashley they had a “soju tasting” scheduled in the afternoon, but in reality, he had rented a private art studio for the occasion. Knowing they had dinner reservations at a Michelin-starred restaurant afterward, he cleverly suggested they dress up beforehand since there wouldn’t be time to return to the hotel. While getting ready, Ashley grew suspicious but dismissed the idea—he seemed too calm, and she didn’t spot a ring box. She thought, "It’s only the second day of the trip; it’ll probably happen later." When they arrived, Ashley noticed a shoe rack outside the studio door and began to take off her heels, confused by the setup. Austin urged her to go inside, and as she stepped through the door, it all became clear. Cue instant tears. Their photographer, Lorryn, was there capturing every moment as Ashley took in the sight of an aisle lined with rose petals and tealight candles, leading to breathtaking views of Seoul in the background. Austin gently took her purse, set it aside, and began reading her the most heartfelt love letter. Dropping to one knee, he pulled the ring from his coat pocket and asked the question that brought the easiest “yes” of her life. The two celebrated with champagne and shared a magical rooftop photoshoot, their joy captured forever. Re-live the magic of their proposal day by visiting the “Gallery” section of this website.