Meet us at Old Tappan!

Meet cute Patrick and Pari met by pure good fortune, at a night market in Bangkok in 2023. Patrick was in Thailand on vacation visiting a friend and training Muay Thai. Pari had finished a day at work and was waiting at a table to meet her friend. They made eye contact as Patrick was walking by, and Patrick decided to go talk to this beautiful, bored girl in a lovely red dress. In the balmy nighttime air they got lost in conversation. Patrick noticed Pari was interested in culture and curious about the world. Pari noticed Patrick very slim and tall, and she was drawn to the way he spoke about his love of writing. Pari's friend arrived, so they exchanged contact information and each went on with their night. Later Patrick asked Pari out for drinks at a rooftop overlooking the city. They got to know each other better, then ran inside to escape a sudden thunderstorm. In a cozy lobby, they shared a kiss as lightning cracked open the sky. During the rest of Patrick's trip, they saw each other as much as possible, traveling and doing tropical excursions together. They said a poignant and uncertain goodbye. Over the next year, they stayed in touch about news and life events. Pari left sweet and sincere voice messages on Patrick's birthday and on New Year's Eve, which weighed on his heart as he realized what a special person she was. Travels The next summer, Patrick planned another trip to Asia: to visit friends in Japan and Taiwan, and hopefully to see Pari again. Echoing their first meeting a year earlier, she agreed to join his travels. They met in Taiwan, where they survived multiple earthquakes, soaked in the natural hot springs of Wulai valley, and explored the eclectic nightlife of Taipei. They made another goodbye—more difficult this time. Soon after that they started planning Pari's visit to New York. She applied for a tourist Visa, and they rejoiced when she got it. Pari visited in December, and together they felt the timeless magic of Christmastime in the city. At this point Patrick knew he wanted to see her in Thailand again, hopefully very soon. On Patrick's next trip to Thailand, Pari planned a beautiful three weeks of island exploration, arts and crafts, and trendy restaurants. Patrick also had the pleasure of meeting some members of her family—sweet and gracious and always wanting the best for her. On a pedalboat in the middle of a lake, Patrick and Pari talked openly about what they hoped for the future. Together in New York Pari visited New York again, this time in the Summer. She met Patrick's entire family at different events and holidays. Along the way she saw the sunny beaches of Margate, NJ, the rugged Adirondacks of upstate New York, the quiet luxury of West Palm, FL, and the American audacity of Disney World. In between these trips, they experienced everyday life together, and it felt right. They adapted to each other, laughed often, and cared for each other. Proposal Patrick knew he wanted to propose to Pari on a beach. The two had enjoyed beach walks together on both sides of the world, since the first days they met. "Italians are water people, and Thais are water people." In early December they took a trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico to celebrate Patrick's cousin's birthday. Patrick told Pari they'd stay an extra night, just the two of them, so they could take a UTV tour Pari had picked out. They zipped around and got covered in mud, then checked into a fancy hotel and cleaned up. Patrick brought Pari out to the beach for a walk before dinner. There they came upon an auspicious arch and sign, and everything fit into place. Patrick proposed, and Pari said yes, just as she had said yes to a drink on a rooftop in Bangkok, to a trip to Taiwan, and to a flight across the world. They celebrated with a romantic dinner at a nearby rooftop and quiet conversations in the hot tub at the resort.