This story begins with two transplants moving to the greater DC area in 2018. Aseem came by way of Bentonville, Arkansas after a friend’s dad helped him get a job closer to his family in New Jersey. Katie came by way of Ithaca, New York with her best friend in tow, looking to be around more young people and taking the advice of a random drunk woman who’d once told her she had a "DC Vibe".

As many millennials do, these two met on an online dating app and connected over their shared understanding of water as a superior beverage. Despite both agreeing they “were not looking for anything,” their connection grew stronger, with Aseem making it official by giving Katie a cake that read, “Will you be my girlfriend?” to which Katie of course said yes.

5 years later, it became time for Aseem to ask Katie another important question. In typical, opinionated, Katie fashion, she told Aseem exactly what she did not want from a proposal, and while Katie worked with a jeweler to design her dream ring, Aseem worked to put together the surprise of a lifetime.

He planned for months, working behind the scenes with all of their family and friends, scouting locations and a photographer and a musician, distracting Katie with diversions and red herrings to keep in the dark.

And over that fateful October 2023 weekend, Aseem took Katie on a beautiful "work-sponsored" scavenger hunt down memory lane, revisiting their first few date locations and the first apartment they shared, and while they walked around one of their local parks, with Katie's favorite song being played by that scouted musician, Aseem got down on one knee and asked Katie to be his wife. Full of shock and tears, Katie obviously said yes, while that scouted photographer captured their love on film. He then whisked her to a second location, where he surprised her at her favorite restaurant for dinner with both of their families. And, for his final feat, Aseem surprised her again with their friends, from near and far, for a celebration at a local bar.

And now, after months and months of planning, this time together, Katie and Aseem want to continue the celebration of their love with all of you.