We're so excited to celebrate with you!

Our story technically begins 20 years ago, when I met Long in kindergarten at the age of 6. We shared the classroom together as well as the school bus. Our parents lived (and still do) just down the street from one another, so Long was almost literally the boy next door. But to me, at that age, he was just the annoying little guy on my bus. Fast forward through the years of school: elementary, middle, high, and college! We both had always skirted around the perimeters of separate friend circles. Long was an acquaintance, but nothing more than that. UNTIL the beginning of our senior year at Virginia Tech, when we had our first actual one-on-one conversation at a get-together with friends. We naturally bonded over shared interests in food, movies, and goals in life. Over the next few months our friendship grew into more, and to Long’s absolute delight…I asked him to be my boyfriend. After finishing our last year of school together, we began our long-distance challenge as I moved to Louisville for my first job, and Long went to Chicago. For almost a year, we alternated visiting each other in our tiny studio apartments every month, and video called practically every night. Even though the physical distance was tough, our relationship never struggled. I was (and always will be) so lucky to have such a kind-hearted and dedicated person in my life. Since then we’ve been together in Chicago and our partnership has only grown stronger. We’ve weathered through a pandemic, quarantine and much uncertainty thrown our way, and have been able to rely on each other for support through it all. Looking ahead to our marriage and future together, I have no doubt I have the perfect man to be by my side for whatever else life may deal to us, and a best friend to be there celebrating all of its joys. Who knew that in order to find my life partner in this world, I just had to look down the street!

After trying to flirt with Robin in kindergarten by flipping my eyelids inside out, I finally got her attention in the fall of our senior year. Through many long nights of watching our favorite shows together, we found out how many common interests we share. I got to see what a big nerd Robin is. We watched Harry Potter, Doctor Who, and more which has been my ultimate checkmark in a partner. I have never been so captivated in conversation or had such ease in expressing my true self from the beginning and I knew that I was in love. Yes, she did ask me to be her boyfriend thankfully because I was too scared to make a move, however, one week later I told her that I loved her. One month later I asked her to come visit Chicago with me. Six months in, while I was traveling abroad across Europe and Asia, I dreamt about marrying Robin. I wrote it down in my journal to make sure I would make this dream into a reality. After almost a year of long-distance, several greyhound bus rides, and many broken rental cars later we did the most traditional Asian thing we could do: move in together before marriage! Living with Robin has been one of the most natural transitions of my life. We match on financial values, cleanliness, and are both professional couch potatoes. The pandemic came as a blessing in disguise as it was one long vacation where we could spend all day every day together since my work in the hospitality industry prevented us from spending a lot of time together. Through the taxing years with my job and the uncertainty of the pandemic, we have come out stronger with more concrete values in life. The most important being that we both cherish quality time spent with one another. No amount of money can replace the time lost due to working long hours or going in on days off. Money will always come and go, but time just goes. I have been waiting to marry Robin my whole life and I am beyond excited to continue the journey of eating and traveling with my Queen.