Lauren and Hiroshi’s story began in the fall of 2021 at UCI, where they first crossed paths during a grad school critique class. Their journey officially moved beyond the classroom at a local taco truck; Lauren was so nervous she shyly managed to eat only a single taco, and both of them spent the meal wondering if they were even on a "real" date. Any lingering doubt vanished after a showing of Licorice Pizza, when they ended up at the beach, lost in conversation until the early morning hours. Since that night, their adventures have taken them across the globe—from Mexico City, England and Japan (twice!), where Hiroshi proposed in July of 2025. Along the way, they expanded their family by rescuing their beautiful dog, Murphy, who is currently practicing her best behavior to make a special appearance during the ceremony. Lauren and Hiroshi are so incredibly excited to bring all their favorite people together on August 15, 2026, to celebrate the start of their next great adventure!