The "Two-Wheeled Bumble" Era: How It Started It all began in November 2017 on the foggy outskirts of Daly City. Two people swiped right, and a first date was born that would set the beautiful, chaotic tone for the next eight years of our lives. Joy bravely hopped onto the back of Alex’s sportster motorcycle and we tore through the windy hills of Daly City. We zoomed straight into the heart of the Mission, and eventually ended the night on the Embarcadero looking into the San Francisco Bay. Under the glow of the Bay Bridge lights, we shared our very first kiss. Looking back—this was a massive leap of faith for a first date and a high-stakes move, but thankfully, nobody fell off—literally or metaphorically. It was the perfect precursor to a lifetime of adventures and the foundation for our trust. Growing Roots (& Getting Feisty) As time went on, our bond deepened over a mutual love for our incredible circle of friends, spontaneous city adventures, exploring antique shops for vintage treasures, traveling to new places, and consuming an endless amount of good food. Our love didn’t just grow; it blossomed into something entirely solid. By 2019, we decided it was time to officially join forces and pack up for the East Bay. We moved across the bridge to Oakland, CA, bringing along our deeply beloved boy, Marcel, into our very first home together. Little did we know, a global pandemic was just around the corner, ready to lock us down in our new place. Talk about an absolute crash course in partnership! Through a healthy dose of humor, unwavering mutual support, and a fair amount of our signature feistiness, we didn't just survive the lockdown—we came out of it inseparable. Over the last 8+ years, we’ve weathered life’s highest highs and deepest lows side-by-side, growing more vulnerable, understanding, and fiercely loving toward each other every single day. A Tale of The Second Bridge: Building a Home Our home in Oakland is a living scrapbook of our life together. We have intentionally built our space using found relics, unique antique store scores, and deeply meaningful memories. Each corner tells a story. Over the years, our chapters have been heavily defined by the family we've built and the pets we cherish. We’ve welcomed our sweet kitten Mia, our incredibly snuggly yet chaotic pup Penny, and we've held each other close through the heavy, painful losses of our grandparents and our first fur baby, Marcel. Every single piece of our home reflects exactly where we've been, what we've survived, and who we are together. Hakone Magic: The Proposal Fast forward to late 2024, when we took an unforgettable, magical trip to Japan. We traveled through beautiful cities and visited family, but the absolute pinnacle happened in Hakone. Now, to be fair, Joy knew a proposal was coming eventually on this trip—Joy just didn't know exactly when. Surrounded by serene, breathtaking views, he completely raised the bar for romance by proposing on our private balcony at the onsen on December 3rd—our actual dating anniversary. The next part was a total blur, but it went something like: "Holy shit!" followed by a lot of tears, endless cheesin', and the official beginning of a whole new chapter. Building Our History: The Next Chapter Eight years, a couple of moves, a few pets, and a lot of antique store detours later, our journey has brought us right to this moment. We are so incredibly grateful for the life we’ve built, the growth we've experienced, and the love we share. We absolutely cannot wait to celebrate this milestone with the people we hold closest to our hearts. Thank you for being part of our story—here’s to continuing to build, laugh, and navigate the many chapters still to come! Cheers!