Our story begins in Texas. Although we had several chances to meet while attending UT Austin, it wasn’t until after graduation that our paths finally crossed in Dallas on a dating app. As is often the case with online dating, our progress was slow at first—just a few messages a day. Things took a serious turn, however, when Jacob faced a significant decision: should he accept an international work assignment or continue getting to know a boy he had just met? For various reasons, including a soon-to-be global pandemic that could have left him stranded in Singapore, Jacob made the smart call to stay in Texas!

Initially, our match made sense on paper. We both saw ourselves as studious and career driven. We both loved traveling to new places with friends and cherished our relationships with our friends and families. These shared values allowed our initial spark to grow into a more meaningful relationship.

Over our 5+ years together, we’ve discovered that, like any couple, we each have our own set of unique interests. Thankfully, over time, many of these interests have converged, new ones have formed, and our friends and families have become interwoven in rich and meaningful ways.

We’ve worked through differences in communication styles, demanding work schedules, career switches, a move to an entirely new city and way of life, and heartbreak. We’ve learned that love is more often a matter of commitment rather than convenience. Through tests big and small, our love has slowly and steadily built into something we find ourselves incapable of living without. Most importantly, we’ve come to rely on each other to have our backs. Unconditionally.

We know this is just the beginning of an adventure together. We are not blind to the challenges ahead of us, but we know there is no one else we’d rather do this with than each other. To each of you who have played your part in helping us navigate this journey, we thank you. We love you very much and are so excited to celebrate with you!