We met here in sunny San Diego, during the first week of undergrad at UCSD in 2012. We lived in the same dorm building so we could hang out all the time. Alex would walk down the 2 floors to Desi's room and wake her up from her usual nap because it was time for lunch or dinner. At parties, we would always end up running off to talk and laugh together.

We quickly became best friends and that was enough until the end of 3rd year in 2015, when the end of undergrad was looming and questions about how we would stay in each other's lives started to come up in our conversations. It was then that we realized this was more than just a friendship and we wanted to continue our lives as partners. We spent the rest of our time in college as a couple.

After graduating in 2016, we moved near UC Berkeley for a couple of years where Alex obtained his Master's Degree and Desi worked in a neuroscience lab. It was our first time living together and we had many incredible adventures exploring Berkeley, traveling around the world, and going to music festivals.

In 2018, Desi moved back to San Diego to begin her neuroscience PhD program at UCSD, while Alex continued working in the bay area. Fortunately, we moved back in together after a year when Alex found a job in San Diego working as a medical device engineer for spine surgery. Shortly after moving back, we bought our first home in the Hillcrest neighborhood of San Diego right next to the zoo in Balboa Park, which we like to visit often.

Alex proposed to Desi in May 2022 at their favorite music festival: Lightning in a Bottle. Less than two weeks later, we adopted our dog Teddy, who is our pride and joy and has become an integral part of the family.

Over the last 12 years of knowing each other, we’ve both grown and changed in many ways, but our connection and love for each other has only gotten stronger. We can’t wait to take this next step in our lives, and are so excited to be able to celebrate this moment with you all.

Our first official date!

Celebrating our graduation from UCSD in 2016.

Our first day in Berkeley together.

Back in San Diego, the zoo is one of our favorite places.

We bought a condo and painted all the walls in less than a week!

The big moment at Lightning in a Bottle!

Our first time meeting Teddy, and also the day we adopted him.

Our little family :)

Excited to take the next step in our adventure :)