Our story begins at Metro Detroit Chinese Alliance Church—the very place where we’ll soon say “I do.” It just so happened to be the first day both of us attended the church’s English ministry. M had originally intended to join the Cantonese fellowship, hoping to sing worship songs that reminded him of home. But instead, he was “redirected” by H’s mom to the English side, where there were more young adults. H, meanwhile, was returning to the Chinese church for the first time in eight years, in hopes of reconnecting with an Asian community. What felt like two unrelated decisions turned out to be God perfectly aligning our paths. From day one, He was already writing our story—one “coincidence” at a time. We clicked instantly and became fast friends. H was especially excited to meet someone from Hong Kong in Michigan for the first time. But just as our bond was beginning to grow, M shared unexpected news: he was moving to New Mexico for a job at Intel. Despite the 1,600 miles between us, we stayed in touch and continued getting to know each other. That December, H flew to Hong Kong to visit family, even with strict COVID travel quarantine rules in place. Once again, God’s timing was perfect. M had just relocated and had plenty of free time, which he used to keep H company during her 21-day hotel quarantine. We spent hours talking, watching movies, and playing games from dusk until dawn. For H, M’s presence turned what could have been a lonely, difficult experience into a time of joy and connection. God had truly provided exactly what she needed, right when she needed it most.
Knowing how much H loved snowboarding, M planned a trip to Breckenridge with a few friends—even though he didn’t yet know how to snowboard himself. Determined to make it special, he spent January learning the sport, excited to share something she loved. When the trip finally arrived, we had our first lunch together over hot pot. But even then, M still hadn’t officially asked the question—so H, never one to wait around, casually said, “Will you officially go out with me?” That trip marked not only the start of our relationship, but also the beginning of a tradition: snowboarding has become our anniversary trip every year since.
In early 2023, M received a LinkedIn message about a job opportunity back in Michigan. It came from someone he had met on his very first day at MDCAC back in 2021—the same day he met H! That message couldn’t have come at a better time. M had just pulled an all-nighter for work, staying up until 5 a.m. on a Sunday. While he had truly enjoyed his time in New Mexico and the friendships he built there, he was excited for the chance to return. And just like that, long distance became short distance. Taking his father’s advice, M didn’t rush into planning a wedding right away. Instead, we focused on enjoying the gift of being in the same city—dating in person, serving at the same church, and growing together in a season we had long been waiting for.
Before we knew it, a year had flown by—and it was time to seriously consider the big question. The decision came naturally. Through the highs and lows, God had used our relationship to teach and shape us in meaningful ways. With hearts full of peace and excitement, M began preparing for the next step: the proposal. And he didn’t just plan it—he surpassed every expectation H had ever dreamed of. H had once mentioned three wishes for the moment it would happen: that it would be a complete surprise; that their closest family and friends would be there; and that the backdrop would be purposely decorated with photos of them Ironically, it was fulfilling all those requests that helped make the surprise even more perfect. With the latter half of 2024 packed with commitments, H was convinced a proposal wouldn’t come until the following year—especially since hosting M’s parents from California seemed impossible amidst the busyness. So when a church chestnut-picking outing came up one weekend and M said he couldn't make it because he had to study for exams, H went without a second thought. After the outing, H—true to her extroverted nature—was all in for grabbing lunch with friends. But thankfully, her rides that day, Joe and Michelle, gently redirected her with a believable excuse, bringing her home to get ready for a “picnic” with M instead. By the time she got back, she was already running late after spending a little too long chatting at the orchard. Still, she remembered she had promised M she’d dress up a bit. With just 30 minutes to spare, she threw on an outfit and hoped it would be good enough. (If she had known what was coming—or that she’d soon be part of a perfectly picturesque moment—she definitely would have put in a little more effort.) M picked her up, and they headed to Lake St. Clair Metropark, even stopping at Panera for a free drink. As they started walking in the park, H realized she had forgotten her sunglasses. M offered to go back and grab them (she’d later learn he’d actually forgotten the ring in the car, so it was good timing). They continued walking along the path by the water, with H happily chatting away—until about 20 minutes later, her sharp 20/20 vision caught sight of a gazebo in the distance, beautifully decorated with a large sign in front that read: “Will You Marry Me?” “Wow,” she said. “Take notes—that’s exactly how I’d want my proposal to look.” She had no idea. As they got closer, the pieces slowly started to click. H went quiet, trying to process what she was seeing. At first, it was just a beautifully decorated gazebo—but then she began to notice the details: the photos hanging all around were of them, and all around them were soft, subtle Christmas accents. M had remembered just how much she loved Christmas and incorporated it into the set up, exceeding yet another one of her hopes for this moment. Then, her mom and brother appeared with cameras. One by one, their closest family and friends (and two strangers) stepped out from behind trees and corners, surrounding them. M took her hand, gave his speech, and asked the question they had both been waiting for. H said: “Of course.” And just like that, the next chapter began.