Complicated timeline:

July 16, 2016 - The day we met in Washington D.C. at TOGETHER 2016, next to the Washington Monument, via mutual friend, Brandon. Mandy was in D.C. visiting family and Jason was living in D.C. for summer internship. (see picture)

October 10, 2016 - Saw each other before the Twin Cities marathon, where Jason was running and Mandy was cheering on Brandon. Attended Vespers that night with a group of friends together.

January 29, 2017 - Mandy messages Jason on Facebook asking how he's doing. Becomes a 1+ month long exchange back and forth.

March 3, 2017 - Jason and Mandy talk about their intentions and decide timing and geographical location (Mandy in MN and Jason in NY and moving to NC soon) isn't ideal for starting a relationship.

Sporadic communication through the next year.

February 1, 2018 - Mandy reaches out AGAIN to Jason, asking about his future plans. They haven't stopped talking since.

May 24, 2018 - The unofficial, official first date/first time seeing each other again since the marathon. (Jason knew it was a date but forgot to mention it to Mandy.)

September 3, 2018 - Officially dating

November 2018 - Met each others' parents when Jason moved to Minneapolis and at a family meal at the Huang household

January 9, 2019 - First trip together going to visit Mandy's brother Ronny, Calinda and Ivy in DC

January 31, 2019 - Jason travels with Mandy and her parents to China over Chinese New Year and meets the family in Guangzhou

April 25, 2019 - Family vacation with the Huang's to Lake Tahoe

June 7, 2019 - Couples camping trip to Duluth for the weekend

June 18, 2019 - Jason says "I love you" first!

August 2, 2019 - Family Camp with the Scheffert family (Jason's maternal side)

September 25, 2019 - Couples trip to San Francisco as part of Jason's work trip

October 29, 2019 - Jason asks Luke and Lucy for permission to marry Mandy

November 9, 2019

Both being somewhat sentimental, Jason wanted to find a place that would be meaningful to propose. The Foshay Tower in Minneapolis was built in 1929, the tallest building at the time, and was inspired by the Washington Monument in DC. Given that the first time Jason set eyes on his beautiful bride-to-be was in the shadow of the Washington Monument, the observation deck in the tower would work nicely. After convincing the staff to open the museum and observation deck an hour early, Jason employed Rachel and Jacob, his sister and brother in law, to help get Mandy there without her suspecting. Mandy is so good at figuring out surprises so Jason intentionally let a few small things slip so she would think that he would be proposing the day after. Rachel, while helpful to convince Mandy to go to the observation deck, was actually working that day so Jacob and Jason got it all ready. Jason put together key dates in their relationship along with photos and sunflowers, Mandy's favorite flower to line the path from the top of the elevator to where he was waiting on the observation deck. Mandy arrived unsuspecting and while she remembers almost nothing of what Jason said - she did say YES!