We first met each other during Nikki’s first year and Richard’s 3rd year of college at USC (Fight On!). It was at Church in Valley in the fall of 2015 that they had their first encounter, as Richard states, they both had a conversation about basketball that Nikki does not remember. Nikki’s first encounter she remembers is watching Richard do multiple anime poses in front of a bonfire during the welcome week activities with a group called Christian Challenge. Over the years, because Richard was one of the leaders of the first-year groups, they saw each other weekly, hung out, played basketball, and went to salsa nights. Richard, ironically, took a year off from dating to really focus on his self-growth and his faith journey. Over time, Richard came to like Nikki, drawn to her faith and character. They wrote letters, became number one friends on Snapchat, and went on a few “pseudo dates” to spend Nikki’s leftover dining dollars. Richard finally confessed he liked Nikki at the EVK dining hall at the end of the semester. However, he realized that he needed more input from others about dating and relationships. They put those feelings on hold during that summer. Thankfully, neither of them went far; Nikki and Richard stayed near USC and plugged into their college ministry’s summer training. As they served, grew, and watched each other from just a little bit of distance, God was quietly shaping their hearts and their timing. They both really stuck to that promise because, on the day of Nikki's sophomore year, they went on their first date, which is another story in itself. Fast forward nine years of patience… Over the years, we’ve walked through season after season of dating — Richard likes to joke that he has a PhD in dating by how long it's been. We’ve cheered each other on through long nights and early mornings, from exams and applications to new jobs and significant life transitions. We’ve built a relationship grounded in faith, friendship, and a lot of shared snacks. We’ve grown up together, learned how to communicate (even when we disagree), and kept choosing each other in the middle of busy, messy, real life. The proposal happened on August 31st, when Richard finally got down on one knee and asked Nikki to marry him. It was emotional, a little imperfect in the sweetest ways, and completely us. Now we’re so excited to step into this next chapter — not just planning a wedding, but building a marriage and a home together. So thank you for being willing to hear our story and be a part of our special day—a reminder of the commitment we have made and will continue to make through any season. So here is to a night of dancing, smiles, laughter, and probably a few tears for the joy of being able to do life together forever.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/24MckJDxSuJHioC4z4NtH7?si=58ff3cadb2d4411b