On my 21st birthday, I started my internship at PwC in Tysons, VA. On my second day, while riding the metro, a fellow intern stepped into the same car — Luke. We realized we were in the same program and became close friends throughout the three month internship. After the internship, Luke went to grad school at UVA and I studied abroad in Tokyo at Keio University. We stayed in touch and later reconnected when we, along with Luke’s grad school friend Ted, moved into an apartment together in Arlington — and so began the era of Apartment 828. The three of us became really close playing Catan on Friday nights (typical COVID activity), watching White Lotus, eating Ted’s renowned guac on Taco Tuesdays, etc. Luke and I also spent a lot of time together, going on long walks (another typical COVID activity), hiking, and having Sunday dinners with my dad when he was in town. Over time, our friendship deepened. In December 2022, before a work trip, I left Luke a letter expressing my feelings — hidden, fittingly, in his work laptop. Once Luke found and read it, he sent a short but sweet response that changed everything. By early 2023, we were officially a couple (though most people assumed we already were). That fall, we closed the chapter on apartment 828 and started a new one together in D.C., building a home and a life full of laughter, love, and adventure.

So, Janae and I first met during our PwC internship, back when we were both clueless about accounting…and each other. After our first few days of orientation, we stumbled into each other one morning on the Metro. I managed to hold a conversation for the full ride despite having no idea which stop was mine and doubting that I was even on the correct line. We survived endless coffee runs and spreadsheets during our internship. Months went by…I went to Grad school and Janae went to study abroad. We stayed in touch while we were away and continued building our friendship as roommates. After many memorable nights of playing Catan, hiking, and biking, our relationship grew. Then one day, Janae slipped me a letter declaring she wanted to be more than just friends. It took me three days to find it. Three days! When I finally found the letter folded inside my laptop, I was surprised, excited, but also embarrassed for the delay. What has Janae been thinking for the last three days? She has to think my answer is no, I tell myself. I decided to immediately text her, awkwardly admitting it took me forever to find the letter but that, yes, I was on board. From that moment on, things changed. As they say, the rest is history.

I still can’t believe how perfect everything turned out that day in Warsaw. I had been planning this proposal for weeks, wanting it to be a moment Janae would remember forever. We were at Krasiński Garden, a beautiful spot that felt both intimate and magical, tucked away in the heart of the city. I hired a local photographer who was, well, interesting to say the least—his eccentric energy added an unexpected charm to the day. We went through several different poses and moved between various spots in the garden, trying to capture every subtle glance and smile between us. I was getting more and more nervous as the shoot went on, waiting for the right moment. Finally, the photographer gave me the nod. It was time. I reached into my backpack and pulled out the ring box. Unfortunately, a red pen from my backpack had scribbled all over it! Somehow, it had gotten marked up during our travels; I had been carrying that ring across five different countries over nine days, and the pen mishap was the last thing I needed on that day. Regardless, I got down on one knee, heart pounding, and asked Janae to marry me. She said yes! The look on her face, captured in those photos, was pure happiness. The photoshoot proposal was a complete success, and as the evening fell, we celebrated with a fantastic Polish dinner—pierogi, kielbasa, and all. Sitting there, hand in hand, I knew this was a night we’d never forget. The ring, the garden, the quirky photographer, and Janae’s glowing smile—all of it combined into a story we’ll tell for the rest of our lives.

In August 2025, Luke and I took a long-awaited trip through Central Europe, exploring five countries and having lots of adventures. I suspected something might happen and asked Luke on the very first night if we were getting engaged—he smoothly dodged the questions, and I eventually let it go. On the last morning of the trip, August 16th, in Warsaw, Poland, Luke told me he had hired a photographer for a photoshoot. I was thrilled but slightly suspicious. Later that afternoon, as we got ready, I tried convincing Luke to practice our poses as a couple—he refused, which is not surprising if you know Luke. During the photoshoot, Luke seemed nervous, but I assumed he just wasn’t a fan of professional photos. As the session wrapped up, the photographer led us to the center of the park. Luke turned to me, got down on one knee, and pulled out a ring box (which, hilariously, had red pen marks all over it—I almost stopped Luke and asked if a kid had been coloring on it). He asked me to marry him, and of course, I said yes! Afterward, we celebrated with facetime calls to my parents, went to an unforgettable dinner, and soaked in the perfect ending to an unforgettable trip. If you’ve made it to the end of our story, thank you — truly. We feel so grateful and blessed to have each of you in our lives. While this may be our story, it wouldn’t be what it is without the love, support, and friendship of the people who have shaped us along the way. Thank you for being a part of our journey and for celebrating this next chapter with us. Your presence means more to us than words can express.