Let's get Stikki!

We started off as friends when we met in the dining commons at UC Santa Barbara. Steven was quite shy at this point in college, though Nikki did not recognize this shyness at the beginning. After a brief conversation at the commons we became best friends. Over three years we would go out together, spend beach days together, be study buddies, and generally be there for one another. Steven would bike half a mile to come kill spiders for Nikki and Nikki would skate Steven study snacks to his place. All in all a great friendship. We never really saw anything past that, though little signs peaked through. Sophomore year, Nikki commented to her Mom that she would marry Steven in a joking way (turns out it wasn't a joke!) In the midst of Las Vegas’s Electric Daisy Carnival, Nikki saw a side to Steven that really revealed something deeper in our connection. The experience of dancing under the electric sky with your best friend who you can tell anything to, do anything with, and be your true self around showed both of us that we were meant for something more than that. With so many emotions bringing us together, Nikki leaned in to kiss Steven’s cheek. Steven sidestepped the cheek and turned in for a real kiss which fully exposed the feelings that had always been there. Feelings of love and true appreciation and gratitude for each other. Feelings we know will carry our relationship into eternity.

As the date approached that would signify half a decade of growing together as individuals and a couple, Steven knew the time had come to make the ultimate commitment. Enlisting the aid of the future man of honor, Steven plotted a proposal deserving of the girl that changed his life. Alas, with the restrictions of COVID still in place, the options were limited and the proposal to take place in the spot of their fateful first kiss was a no-go. Nevertheless, a plan was set in place to incorporate another love they shared on their favorite hiking spot overlooking the beauty that is Mount Diablo. After a routine morning bagel they were on their way up the mountain on perfect day. A mile or so to the top revealed a blanket covered in 8 rose quartz crystals to signify 8 years of friendship and 5 lapis lazuli crystals for 5 years of dating. And of course, the rest is history.