From the groom... "Our fathers were high school buddies so Athena and I had met briefly when we were children. However, due to geographic differences (I grew up between the US and Hong Kong while she stayed in Taiwan,) we never really got to know each other until we met again 15 years later. In 2012, a few years after graduating from college, I visited Taiwan for Chinese New Years and met her again through our families for the first time as an adult. We found that we shared common interests in music and similar philosophies on life and family. We maintained in touch after I left Taiwan. We grew close as I would visit Taiwan every few months and see her. In 2013, it became apparent that the relationship we had was more than friendship. We spent the New Years Eve of that year together. We decided to start dating and became a couple. Over the next four years, we would frequently visit each other and go on trips together. In 2015 she spent 10 months studying English in the U.S. and we would travel around quite a bit. In 2016 I took her to visit my alma mater the University of Michigan during homecoming weekend. In 2017 we attended the beautiful Burning Man festival in Block Rock City, Nevada together. In April 2018, we took a trip to Positano, Italy for Athena's 29th birthday. Right before the birthday dinner, I set up the cameras and surprised her by proposing under the pretense of taking birthday pictures with the view. Luckily, even though Athena thought I was acting strangely nervous, she did not think too much of it, and both the surprise and the proposal were a success!"

From the bride... "We met on the dating app Coffee Meets Bagel. We instantly had a connection from the start. We are both driven and have a strong personality. We have many things in common besides our family values and background. We became inseparable after the first couple of dates and have been in love ever since."

From the bride... "So Ricky and I actually met online (Plenty of Fish). I had been in at least 4 dates and none of them led to a second but as soon as I saw his profile (and that he hated hiking) I had a feeling he would be something special. Our first date was at Yard House in Irvine and although he only had a beer and I only had 1 order of wings, we talked for 5 hours nonstop. Best first date ever! That was November 14, 2015. Since then, of course, we have had our ups and downs but we made it through all the hard stuff stronger than we did going in."

From the groom... "We met in San Francisco. Felicia went on a date with a good friend of mine. He asked me to join along and do a double date thing. I ended up coming alone and then Felicia and I hit it off immediately. My friend was okay with me essentially taking over the date and since then we were inseparable."

From the groom... "It all started at a bar in New York City where, through a confluence of events that could have only been orchestrated by God, we found ourselves separately having a drink with friends. I (Nihar) was drawn to Vivian's smile and contagious laugh and spent the night nervously wondering if the cute girl from LA would grant me her number, and somehow she did. After a few dates, it was clear between the two of us that our joint love of comfort food, travel and relaxing would make for a great couple. And after only a few months, it was clear between the two of us that our deep commitment to each other, and to our mutual values, would make for a great and lasting relationship. Over the next 5 years, we traveled the country and the world, found our go-to local noodle shops and Italian restaurants, fought through long-distance (and not enough distance), and were blessed with a family of friends and the addition of our dog Mochi. Through all of these experiences, three graduations, new jobs, and cross country moves, we continued to recommit to each other and to a shared foundation of values, family and friendship. Finally, after many conversations with Vivian’s parents – and a lot of growing up – I dressed Mochi up in his favorite tux and finally got down on one knee – this act representing the culmination of years of becoming more a part of each other, and finally making it official. Our story is one of growing together through shared experiences and mutual trust – a bond built out of respecting each other and our beliefs. Now we look forward to a lifetime of growing stronger through making more memories, together and, most importantly, with all of our family and friends that will bless us with their presence on our wedding day!"

From the bride... "We met Thanksgiving Weekend of 2010, through mutual friends. We saw each other a bit like friends and then started "officially dating" in mid-January of 2011. We've had our ups and downs, but stayed together ever since. Matt proposed on New Year's Eve of 2015 in Park City, Utah while we were on a family vacation. We were out in the snow to build a snowman."

From the bride... "The interesting thing about our love story and how we met, is that it had the opportunity to begin much sooner than it did. Neither Jon or I knew we actually lived in the same condo building in downtown Minneapolis 6 years prior to meeting. We found this out on our first date 2/5/15. As we continued to talk, we realized we also parked across from one another. Quite a coincidence, considering there are 3 levels in the parking garage. I had a just gotten a puppy, Schnitzel, who comes to work with me and refuses to walk up or down the stairs. So each night I would take the elevator. Jon being young and impatient, would always take the stairs. Jon eventually moved out and I always wondered what happened to the cute guy who would never take the elevator! We fell in love almost instantly and could have talked for hours on our first date. 8 months later on 10/5/15 in Paris, France in front of the Eiffel Tower we got engaged!!! 13 months after the day we got engaged 11/5/16, we'll be getting married! Guess the 5th is our lucky number ;)"