Our Story
Our Story
May 21st, 2012
We were up in San Francisco for a concert and met very briefly through a mutual friend. As true millennials, we kept in touch purely through social media. Vennie asked Candice to pick up some souvenirs while she was in Asia and they met up for the first time that August (with a huge group of friends, Vennie still too shy to ask her out).
August 30th, 2012
Ron, the one who introduced us, asked both of us to eat, and at the last minute (literally 30 minutes before) backed out. We were unaware of the "set-up" (still not sure if it was a set-up), until much later. Thanks Ron! Vennie took Candice to AYCE Sushi. Candice is allergic to most seafood.
September - March
Vennie would ask Candice to hang out 2-3 times a week, but never properly asking her to be his girlfriend. It wasn't until Valentine's Day that Candice caught on.
February 14th, 2013
The Valentine's Day Incident. Vennie asked Candice on the Tuesday before Valentine's Day (a Thursday), "What are you doing on Thursday, do you want to go eat?", thinking he was super slick. He was not.
March 18th, 2013
After many months of courting, Candice got impatient (like she always does) with how long Vennie was taking. She called Vennie out and they finally got together!
April 15th, 2017
Four years later, two months after moving in together, Vennie surprised Candice and asked her to marry him in front of close family and friends. It almost didn't happen since Candice arrived 2 hours late (not her fault!).
March 16th, 2018
They will be married!
March 23rd, 2018
They will be married again... but in Taiwan!
Bonus Facts
We were born in the same hospital (Garfield Medical in Monterey Park), just a little over 2 weeks apart! CrazzzyYYY! Monterey Park plays a huge role in both our upbringings.
We went to the same summer preschool. Candice went to Alpha-Shen & Vennie went to Happy Days, both in Monterey Park. Alpha Shen had summers at Happy Days!
We also attended the same SAT boot camp one year. Candice only lasted 2 days, while Vennie finished the entire camp.
The Proposal
The Proposal
The Proposal
When I decided to propose, I began freaking out. How was I going to do it? Where would it be? How would I get everyone there? How do you surprise someone who hates surprises? Would she even say yes? Wait, of course she'll say yes! What a stupid question.
I researched so many possible locations to propose. I started with some of her favorite restaurants. $10,000 buy out? No thanks. Then I thought of her favorite parks. $1,000 permits for taking photos? Not today. Time was running out, so I had to be more creative. What would she want the most? Her family and friends. I needed to find an open space that could accommodate the people important in our lives yet intimate enough to be private. The Arboretum! The perfect place was literally down the street from where we lived. The Arboretum was pretty, not a million dollars, and had a secluded rose garden that was perfect.
The pieces were finally coming together. I secretly informed all of her friends and family. To her close friends who hid it from her, I am impressed by your loyalty. Thank you to everyone who kept confusing her and pushing her in the wrong direction.
On the day of, so many things went wrong. Originally, Ricardo, one of Candice's wedding florist friends, was supposed to come in and hang roses and orchids everywhere. The Arboretum said no, so last minute we had to scramble and set up. Thank you to everyone who helped set up the perfect setting. Flowers? Check. Candles? Check. Photographer? Check. Videographer? Check. Everything was set. I asked everyone to hide behind the rose bushes and wait. Then Candice ended up being two hours late. To all our family and friends who waited so long in the heat, thank you.
Candice, thinking that this was just another hangout with her friends, walked into the garden and I popped the most important question. Will you marry me...?
She said Yes!
