We went to a coffee shop called Red Rock where I took all my first dates (Hey, it was close to work, and he was my fifth date of the week). However, the upstairs seating portion was closed that day, so after getting drinks (I got hot chocolate and he got actual coffee), we walked down Castro St., which is Mountain View's downtown area, until we reached the Starbucks. We sat outside and talked for hours about so many things. There was just an immediate easiness and connection... even if he spoiled Terminator for me. (Yeah, I know I was late to the party on that) He asked on the date if I'd be down for another date later that week, and we decided on bowling that Thursday. When it was time to leave, we hugged goodbye and I started walking to my car. Robert then yelled out "Wait, can I have your number?" We had been just talking on Coffee Meets Bagel, so that hadn't even crossed my mind! We changed numbers... and have talked every single day since. --Rachel I felt super guilty going into our first date because I had arranged a first meetup the very next day with another woman I had also met on Coffee Meets Bagel. She had already order a drink for the evening (hot chocolate) so I went in to get something to drink myself (coffee...) and we started waking down Castro St. The conversation flowed naturally and our strides in sync. We finally settled outside of Starbucks and talked for hours about a wide range of topics, losing track of time and coming up with many reoccurring jokes that we still laugh about today. As it got later, we realized we should probably head out, and began the sad trek back to our cars. We bid each other farewell, and as Rachel started crossing the street, I realized I didn’t have her number and that our chat was expiring soon. So from across the street I yelled after her, “Can I please get your number?!” She turned laughed, and came back to entered it into my phone. I was very excited to see where this was going. --Robert

It was just after my roommate Erika's birthday and she told me she wanted to do something that Saturday to celebrate. We drove out to a restaurant called The Press for lunch, then our favorite winery Tenuta Vineyards afterward. (I didn't realize until later that we had just recreated our third date) While at the winery, we played Scrabble and I was growing increasingly frustrated with Erika and Robert who were texting each other the entire time. Then Erika got up to stretch and take photos of things. Robert played "MARRY ME?" backwards (though I thought he was spelling "rhyme" incorrectly until the second R). He then got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I was speechless and all I could do was nod yes! --Rachel I knew I had wanted to propose for a while, but it was a matter of how to do so. What would make it a truly special and memorable occasion for Rachel? I finally decided that her love of board games was the way to go, and a plan to low-key recreate our third date where I knew she was a truly special woman. I had planted the seeds of having Scrabble, and bringing it to our favorite winery to play some time. I had also arranged with her roommate to reserve a time to celebrate her “birthday”, and code words to indicate when I was going to propose so she could wander off and take pictures from afar. There were some close calls such as bad weather, an abundance of nerves and sweat, and the scrabble tiles I’d placed in my pocket snapping out of place as I sat down to play. But at the end of the day, it all went well! With slight of hand, I managed to play all the tiles out, see the shocked look in Rachel’s face, and get down on one knee to propose. Even though I forgot the speech I had planned to make, and even though she only nodded instead of saying yes, I wouldn’t have had it any other way. --Robert

We were planning this beautiful wedding at our local Catholic Church followed by a wonderful reception at a nearby hotel... then COVID-19 hit. So things have had to change. We are still planning to get married on the initial date in a small ceremony with a livestream so everyone who can't be with us in person can still join us virtually. We're heartbroken we can't celebrate the big wedding together, but can't wait to celebrate our one year anniversary in a big way!

One year later... It might not be what everyone expected, but we're planning to have a vow renewal and big reception to celebrate! Hopefully COVID-19 will let us have this day.