Veloria and Thomas' love story began on a magical night, January 5th, 2018. It was Veloria's 21st birthday, and fate had brought them together. Thomas had just moved to Seattle after completing his PhD at UCSD. Veloria was finishing up her undergraduate studies at UW. He walked her home that night, and they both felt the spark of something special. But it wasn't until five months later, when Veloria was walking home from a hiking trip, that they ran into each other again. They started talking and reconnected. From that moment on, they knew they were meant to be together. Their first date was just the beginning of a beautiful love story that would change their lives forever. As they started going steady, they discovered a shared passion for exploring the outdoors, trying new foods, watching movies, listening to music, and traveling to new places. They traveled to China to visit Veloria's family. They traveled to Arkansas to visit Thomas' family. They hiked together, laughed together, learned together, and built a life full of adventure. On December 28, 2020, during a magical sunset on the beach in Bucerías, Mexico, Thomas popped the question and Veloria said yes! They became officially married on January 27, 2021, having a very small ceremony on the UW campus since there was no end in sight to the COVID-19 pandemic at the time. They purchased their first home together in January 2022, and have cherished every moment together with their beloved, spoiled dog, Quila. Gas Works Park was one of the first places they visited on their early dates, and the view of the Seattle skyline on those nights was truly breathtaking. With their wedding venue being less than a mile away from Gas Works Park, Thomas and Veloria will be able to enjoy that very same view on their big day, and even better, they'll be sharing it with so many of their loved ones! Veloria and Thomas are blessed to have found each other and can't wait to start the next chapter of their love story surrounded by family and friends.