Stefanie. Grew up in Mexico, Germany & Texas, US. Ishas. Grew up in Kuwait. Stars aligned. Paths crossed. Journeys intertwined. In the quaint university town of Nottingham. As we settled into our first, or 'Fresher's', year of college, we had the fortune of forming some fantastic friendships. Including ours. In true multicultural fashion, we met at a Chinese New Year's celebration and immediately struck a bond over our love of languages. In our third year, we moved into a house on Harrington Drive, together with four other wonderful house mates. Spending time together; watching series; hosting Thanksgiving; going on drives in Arianna (Ishas' car) - our friendship grew steadily. Until we realised that something deeper was brewing... And the rest, as they say, is history!

Our individual and often adventurous paths took us each across the globe, allowing us to cross paths just on holidays at beautiful destinations. Thanks to these trips and the wonders of modern-day technology, the magic stayed alive. No distance could keep us apart, not even when a global pandemic locked down international travel...

As soon as the German borders allowed Ishas to enter based on the #loveisnottourism campaign, he took the opportunity to 'put a ring on it', in Beyoncé's words. What Stefanie assumed to be an uneventful visit to a hidden gem in Eastern Germany - Saxonian Switzerland, or 'Sächsische Schweiz' - became one of our most memorable get-aways yet. For it wasn't just a full-day hike that awaited us atop those mountains: Ishas had carefully selected one of the most beautiful spots - a nook in a medieval bridge overlooking a stunning sunrise - to get down on one knee. The emotion was intense, and thanks to Ishas' characteristic detailed planning, it was captured by a photographer - check out the pictures in the picture section! And despite the early morning hour (Stef is not a morning person, y'all!), there was only one possible answer: YES! OUI! SIM! JA! हाँ जी! نعم! SI!

With our wedding planning in full-swing, we finally found a way to move back to the same continent, the same country, the same place. 8 years in the making, 8 years of our love growing across oceans and continents. We can't wait for the many years to come where we can finally arrive at an airport after a trip, and catch the same plane home together.

And nothing would make us happier, than to have you, our loved ones, with us when we tie the knot and say yes - or in Spanish: S I Love, Stef and Ishas