For two people who are old school at heart, our story has quite a modern beginning.

On December 30th, 2022, during winter break, Thao decided to take a chance and go on a date with her match, Reece. Both ignored the general rule not to trust everything you find on the internet. Little did we know that one decision would change our lives in the most beautiful way.

Reece chose Laguna Beach for the first date, bringing Thao to his favorite restaurant, a place he hoped she would love as much as he did. Thanks to the rain, Thao arrived a little late.....45 minutes late. By that point, Reece had spent enough time waiting that the waitress jokingly wondered if his date was ever going to show up. Reece would later admit the wait instantly became worth it the moment Thao walked in, with short hair, wearing jeans, leather boots, and a black leather jacket that made her look effortlessly cool. He was taken by her genuine confidence.

Our conversation came easily from the start, the kind that makes time pass unnoticed. Somewhere between stories, we discovered we had been working just down the street from each other all along. Our lives unknowingly close before finally crossing paths.

After dinner, we wandered through streets glowing with holiday lights as a soft drizzle began to fall, and Reece pulled out an umbrella that literally lit up, which he later revealed was the only umbrella he had. Completely unfazed by the rain, he happily frolicked along the sidewalk with the glowing umbrella, turning a drizzly afternoon into one of our favorite memories.

We grabbed hot matcha latte and made our way to the tidepools, sitting by the ocean as waves rolled in and conversation stretched effortlessly into the night. What was supposed to be a short lunch date stretched into an entire day.

One date led to another, and then another. Soon our lives were filled with shared adventures, laughter, and the comfort of finding our favorite person in the world. Along the way came meeting each other’s families, learning and embracing each other’s cultures, and building a partnership grounded in love and respect. Whether exploring new places or supporting each other through big career moments, life felt steadier and brighter together.

On July 20, 2024, as the sun set over the beach in San Clemente, Reece asked Thao to marry him, a natural continuation of the story that had begun by the water years before. Surrounded by the sound of the waves,…and with her aunt and uncle happily playing paparazzi from afar, it was the easiest “yes” ever.

We are incredibly grateful for the journey that brought us here and even more excited for everything ahead. Thank you for being part of our story and for celebrating with us as we begin our life journey together.

R&T

Wedding Mass

Wedding Day