We met as high school juniors in August 2011, through a Bay Area youth orchestra where we both played violin. On the first night of the orchestra’s annual retreat in the Santa Cruz mountains, we struck up a conversation on the walk back from rehearsal. There was an instant connection as we bonded over our shared love for music. Soon we were chatting every day on Facebook and eagerly awaiting each Sunday when we’d see each other at rehearsal. Our friendship deepened over post-rehearsal picnics at Shoreline Lake, long conversations over iced tea at Peet’s Coffee, walks on the Stanford Oval, concerts (both as performers and audience), and spontaneity-filled trips to San Francisco. After spending all of junior year appearing as a couple to everyone around us, we went to Angela’s high school prom together and the rest is history. The past 10 years by each other’s side have been an unforgettable journey. We handled 4 years of long-distance in college (with Blade in Illinois and Angela in the Bay Area), celebrated numerous birthdays, graduations, and other milestones, and ultimately were able to grow together during many transformative years of our lives. Our newest adventure has been moving across the country to North Carolina, where we embarked on the next stage of our professional careers and personal lives. We even became first-time homeowners! Some of our favorite memories have included island hopping through the Greek Cyclades, cruising down the Mexican Riviera, exploring Iceland by driving the entire Ring Road, and spending 4 days in the jungle in the Peruvian Amazon. At home, we love playing music together, cooking (fluffy scallion pancakes are Blade’s specialty), biking, hiking, and bingeing The Good Place. This past spring, Blade proposed during one of our favorite hikes, on top of a hill overlooking the Bay at sunset. It was a magical moment and a perfect start to the rest of our lives together. We can’t wait to share our wedding day with you all in May!