We first met on Bumble in June 2023 and quickly made plans to meet in person at the Market Broiler. The food was just okay—but the date? Outstanding. I knew I had to see her again. And I did—again, and again, and again. She has the most stunning smile and is the nicest person I’ve ever known! It didn’t take long (maybe a month) before people assumed we had been together for years. We had an oddly accurate sense of each other’s wine preferences, and we could practically read each other’s minds during games of charades. It was a great time proving I had all the essentials she looks for in a man: unusually impressive cleanliness, a freakishly sharp memory, and zero hesitation when it comes to splitting my dessert. I was spending so much time in Hayward with Gayani that we decided I’d officially move in by April 2024. We had our highs (Gayani’s cooking, for example), and our lows (like when I set off the smoke alarm frying my “famous” quesadillas). But even the lows became memories we laugh about now. The cats, Tiggy and Caper, graciously allowed me to stay—so long as I keep petting them whenever they demand it. I proposed exactly one year after we met—same restaurant, same table. And if you’re reading this, you already know how that turned out. We’re so excited to celebrate this next chapter with the people we love. Whether you’re coming for the vows, the dance floor, or just the dessert (I respect it), we’re grateful to have you there. Most of all, I can’t wait for a lifetime of laughter, late-night talks, cat cuddles, and great wine with Gayani by my side.

How and where we met isn’t all that important. What really matters is where we ended up. Mike is remarkably clean, he always remembers where he left his keys, and he is always willing to split more than his fair share of dessert; these are just some of the things he led me to believe when we met. But none of that mattered once both cats quickly adopted him as one of their own. I started to fall for him when I saw how consistently he shows up, how he always puts me first, and how he checks every room for spiders without making me feel silly for asking. He makes love feel steady, safe, and just the right amount of ridiculous. It didn’t take long for me to realize that his persistence and optimism weren’t just part of his charm. Just a month into dating, he decided we were going to Pismo Beach for the weekend and wouldn’t take no for an answer. That trip was the beginning of something much bigger. It was one of many moments when his steady belief in us brought out the best in me. So, on our one year anniversary when he pulled out the ring and said, “Let’s get married,” I wasn’t the least bit surprised. I already knew the answer. As we get ready to spend the rest of our lives together, I’m excited for all the adventures ahead, from laughing through the highs to supporting each other through the lows and always making room for dessert. We’re so grateful to have all of you with us and can’t wait to celebrate with the people who mean the most to us. Here’s to love, laughter, and lots of great wine.