Our Love Story
How They Met
Steph and Rich met the modern way - on a dating app. Their first glimpse of each other was a picture: a photo of Rich saving a child during a water rafting trip, of Steph running the Boston Marathon.
Steph swiped right because Rich's beaming smile and genuine eyes caught her attention.
Rich swiped right because he always swiped right.
Rich sent the first message, something about the weather, and somehow Steph didn't end the conversation right then. But as two millennials who had both met too many frogs, they knew that to really get to know each other, they had to meet in person.
Rich invited Steph to his typical first date spot, a cute dessert cafe in Koreatown. But April 8th, 2017, was lovely and warm after a chilly week, so Steph suggested they meet in the park nearby instead.
Of course, Steph was late to their first date, but when she did finally make it to the park, Rich was happily surprised she was "as advertised" (some might even say better) than her profile.
They sat and chatted and laughed and got to know each other. Time passed and they didn't want the date to end. Rich suggested they walk along the Highline so Steph led the way... in the other direction, to the East River. By the time they realized her mistake, it was overcast and windy, and ultimately they took a taxi to the Highline and ate tacos at Los Tacos #1 in Chelsea Market.
More time passed and still they didn't want the date to end. Rich suggested get drinks at a bar but Steph had a better idea - ice cream. The conversation never stopped and by the time they checked the time, 6 hours had gone by since they first laid eyes on each other.
Finally, they had to say goodbye. They rode the subway together and as Rich got up and said goodbye, Steph couldn't help but think: this guy's special.
How He Proposed
Rich told Steph they were going to his coworker's retirement party.
Steph had her suspicions but she had no reason to say no.
As they arrived and the elevator opened to the top floor, a violinist started playing Can't Help Falling In love With You. Mystified, Steph looked at Rich. They rounded the corner to see a beautiful rooftop garden, and a heart shaped out of rose petals. Rich led Steph to the center of the heart.
Rich got down on one knee and Steph said the easiest yes of her life.
They embraced and laughed and cried. Rich told Steph they were still going to that coworker's retirement party. Steph was too distracted by her new ring to think anything of it.
They walked a short distance away to Rockefeller Center, and went up to the Top of the Rock where all of their friends and family were waiting to surprise Steph and toast to their engagement. Friends were there from San Francisco, Boston and Albany.
Steph and Rich couldn't be happier. Hours passed in celebration with their friends and family - then Rich told Steph they had to leave the party as the day was not yet over. He pulled out their bags which he had packed (the best he could) and off they were to Nantucket for a perfect weekend for their engagement moon.