If you ask either of us how we met, you will get a different answer: John stating that it was at the coolest (and only) all ages music venue in New Iberia, Louisiana around 2008; Shadi arguing that it was through him dating a best friend of hers at the time a year later. Either way, we are so glad it took thirteen years of acquaintanceship to take our relationship to the next level -- as we both fully believe everything has happened in exactly the right timing.

Repeating a date that John had taken Shadi on during one of her visits to Colorado, they went for Dochi Donuts (a mochi donut shop -- google it), and lavender lattes, and then brought them to City Park in Denver (where originally on October 18th of 2021, John realized that he wanted nothing more than to have Shadi become a more permanent part of his life). They sat under a tree and talked, covering topics ranging everywhere from the delicious donuts we were eating all the way to existential crises. After a few hours, Shadi acknowledged that they should probably get going and think about finding some lunch, when upon standing up, turned around to find John down on one knee, awkwardly popping the question to which Shadi responded, "Hello?" "What?" "Is this real?" (nervously looking around to discern if this was, in fact, real) and to which John replied, "Are any of those a yes?" before she finally did in fact say "Yes." But wait! There's more.. Shadi secretly purchased a ring for John, shortly after his proposal. Shadi, being notoriously (and deathly) afraid of any semblance of vulnerability then proceeded to sit on that ring for six months, before finally popping a question of her own. During an anniversary trip to Breckenridge in October of 2024, she surprised John. They were winding down the night in their cabin, working on their proposal story on this very wedding website when she stated "I think I have something that might help us conclude this story" and very weirdly ran to the bedroom, emerging with something behind her back. She then proceeded to get down on one knee, while they both laughed hysterically, and profess her love and commitment to John.