How We Met Like any great modern love story, we met on a dating app OKCupid (proof that sometimes the algorithm really does know what it’s doing!). We were a 98% match, even though Lisa was looking for someone older and John was 30. Somehow he managed to sneak past her strict age filter - suspicious, but cute! John messaged first, opening with a photo of his adorable and slightly fat cat, Houdini. As a fellow cat person, Lisa immediately considered this a green flag and the conversation took off from there. Our first date was on October 1, 2023 at Medici, right after Lisa’s brunch with her parents. She was late (classic), but John was incredibly kind about it. Things felt easy right away, and a few days later John cooked Lisa his signature (and only) dish: spaghetti. It was delicious. After that first date, Lisa admits she bombarded John with questions about family, marriage, and the future but thankfully John wasn’t scared off. Instead, they found they shared a lot in common in terms of values and what they wanted from life. One of our favorite early memories is from December, when we biked home at night hauling our very first Christmas tree. It was equal parts chaotic and hilarious. John looked like the Grinch hauling the giant tree, and Lisa couldn’t stop laughing when her Lime bike gave out halfway. It was a reminder that not only had we found someone to have fun with, but someone to lean on. The Proposal John pulled off the ultimate surprise by coordinating with both our families to secretly come to Lucerne, Switzerland. Lisa had no clue what was coming. She was just relaxing at the hotel the day of, nails undone and totally unbothered while John had secretly been meeting with the parents, texting back and forth, and had already asked them for their blessing. The proposal happened on the iconic Chapel Bridge, with snow gently falling and church bells ringing in the background all under the guise of a “photoshoot.” It was truly magical, like a scene out of a movie. John’s thoughtfulness, humor, and the sheer scale of the surprise perfectly capture who he is. Of course, Lisa said yes. Our Journey From navigating career milestones to negotiating household chores, from egg freezing treatments to unexpected cancer scares, we’ve faced it all together side by side. Along the way, we’ve traveled everywhere (from long road trips to Lufkin and Houston to memorable trips to Europe for vacation), adopted a kitten (Cannoli!), and created countless small traditions and moments that make us laugh and bring us closer every day. Through every twist and turn, we’ve found strength in each other’s support and encouragement. We truly couldn’t ask for a better partner for life. These experiences have deepened our bond and reminded us what really matters: love, resilience, and having someone who stands with you no matter what.