Well folks, we’re getting married! Sharice has asked me to write our story, and so as a literary wordsmith, vivid storyteller, and using only a dash of ChatGPT, here we go: A little about us that you probably already know. I’m from Milwaukee, and moved to Seattle in 2016 for my podiatric surgical residency. I loved the vibe, the mountains, the food, and ultimately I decided to stay and get a job here (good call Ryan!). Sharice is originally from China, and in high school moved to Singapore by herself where she lived for several years. She came to the U.S. to pursue her master’s degree at MIT before moving to Seattle in 2018 for her job at Amazon. We met on the dating app Hinge in April 2021–like many during the middle of the pandemic. We connected over our love of whiskey, so naturally, our first date was at a rooftop bar called the Fog Room and I guess it went pretty well. Not long after we started dating, Sharice tore her ACL (side note: don’t speed down steep hills on an electric scooter). I helped take care of her, and somewhere between doctor’s visits and pushing her around in a wheelchair, she would tell me later it was then that she realized this could be something serious (I think my ability to carry heavy grocery bags may have sealed the deal). Around the same time, Sharice also met Mochi—my, now our, dog (although she doesn’t always want to admit it). At first, she was hesitant about the idea of taking care of a dog and Mochi shitting all over the floor the first time she came over probably didn’t help. But over time, Mochi worked her magic and puppy dog eyes. Now, Sharice loves her just as much as I do and Mochi probably loves her more than me! At the beginning of 2023, Sharice officially moved in. Surprisingly, the transition was smooth—no major disagreements, no horror stories. If anything, it was an upgrade for me. Our place is now much neater, much more stylish, and, according to Sharice, significantly less “bachelor pad.” One of our favorite things to do together is travel—Sharice especially has a serious case of wanderlust. Over the years, we’ve been lucky enough to visit incredible places like Brazil, France, Spain, Portugal, Argentina, and even Antarctica (hands down our favorite trip!). Most recently, we explored Egypt, checking another adventure off our list. In September 2023, we traveled to China, where I got to see where she grew up and finally met her parents for the first time. I asked her father for permission to marry her, butchering the Chinese language in the process. Thankfully, he got the gist of what I was trying to ask and he said yes. Later in the trip, on the rooftop of the Fairmont Peace Hotel under the glowing lights of The Bund in Shanghai, I proposed, and Sharice said yes! We always knew we wanted to celebrate with our family and friends, but there just wasn’t enough time to plan a wedding for 2024. At the same time, we didn’t want to wait until 2025—plus, getting Sharice’s green card sooner rather than later seemed like a smart move (Sharice wanted to make it clear that she was already in the process of getting her green card through her company before she met me). So, on March 7th, 2024, we had a small courthouse wedding. A few months later, Sharice got her green card, and to my relief, she didn’t immediately leave me! Now, we’re finally getting the celebration we’ve been waiting for. Oregon has always been special to us—the amazing food and wine, the beautiful scenery, and, let’s be honest, the lack of sales tax! It felt like the perfect place to bring together all the people we love. We look forward to seeing everyone and can’t wait to celebrate with you this summer! Love, Ryan & Sharice