Our Beginning: It all started on Tinder, with Jon sending a message to Lovely because he thought one of her pictures was taken at Lake James. Little did he know she was actually a Lake Hickory gal. After a few exchanged messages, plans were made to hang out on a late, snowy evening—and that was the start of our love story. Lovely’s First Impression of Jon: Getting into Jon’s car late in the evening, I couldn’t really tell what he looked like, but the first things I noticed were his beautiful blue eyes and gentle smile. After our first date, I wasn’t sure what his intentions were, since he would walk six feet in front of me while we were bar-hopping, thinking that he could be a potential new guy friend. Little did I know that the love of my life was this “potential new friend.” Jon’s First Impression of Lovely: She’s cute, kind of short, and she’s nice. When We Fell in Love: On February 14, 2022, around 1–2 a.m., Jon got pulled over for speeding and not having his lights on. The first person he called was Lovely, even though things weren’t exclusive yet. After receiving the call, Lovely immediately left to pick Jon up and took him home. That’s when Jon knew he was falling in love. On February 19, 2022, Lovely got blackout drunk at a Valentine’s concert. Jon stayed by her side throughout the night, tending to her needs—holding her hair back while she puked, giving her his jacket to keep her warm, and making sure she was safe. That’s when Lovely knew she was falling in love. Our First “I Love You”: Jon was the first to say “I love you” to Lovely after she brought him a home-cooked chicken Alfredo meal at his workplace during tax season. That’s when he knew he was truly in love. Lovely said “I love you” back 6–8 hours later. She was scared to say it at first, but she couldn’t deny that she was in love. On March 7, 2022, Jon officially asked Lovely to be his girlfriend, marking the start of a new chapter in our love story. Six to eight months into the relationship, Jon paid the Hmong dowry as a promise to one day marry Lovely, allowing the two to move into their first home together in January 2023. Growing Together: Over the next two years, Lovely and Jon accomplished many goals together. Jon passed all four of his CPA exams and is now a Certified Public Accountant. Lovely graduated from hygiene school, passed all five state board exams, and secured a job. We’ve traveled to new places, made lifelong friends, met each other’s families, and created countless memories together. The Proposal: On November 30, 2025, Jon finally popped the question. While watching the sunrise at Cocoa Beach, Florida, and picking seashells, Jon got down on one knee, starting with “Lovely Kacoua Lo” and ending with “Will you marry me?” Without hesitation, Lovely said yes. Now: Now we are here and cannot wait to begin this new chapter of our lives with our friends and families. The love and support we’ve received throughout this journey have been truly beautiful. We couldn’t have asked for anyone better to share our lives with. So if you can, take this journey with us to Hawaii and join us on our special day.