How We Met – by Joanne: I had just started working at my new job when I first met Leo. He started working only two weeks after me, so we were both new to the work place. My first impression was, “Wow, he’s so buff…” In the beginning, we actually didn’t talk to each other a lot because for the first two months, I was being moved between multiple departments. It also didn’t help that he seemed really intimidating with his faux hawk and tough guy exterior. However, one day after being moved downstairs, I found myself chatting him, “How is it up there!”
I can’t say that I initiated our romance, but I certainly started our friendship! We talked about everything from “Need any help?” to “I can’t wait for the weekend!!” Gradually, our small chats developed into more meaningful conversations about our hobbies and stories from our past. The more I talked to him, the more I realized that he was just like Ferdinand the Bull – Big exterior, soft interior.
So when did I start noticing things were getting a little flirty? When he would draw pictures of me as an animal and throw it over our cubicle divider. Or perhaps when he would wave “Hi” to me with his fat smile as we drove past each other after work. Or maybe when he happened to buy BonBon candy for our team shortly after I told him I liked them. Real slick Leo…
Then came February 17, 2012. I asked Leo to draw a picture of the characters from Tangled, my favorite Disney movie at that time. At first, he was really hesitant to give it to me, saying, “No, it sucks. I need to think about it.” I finally convinced him to give it to me, and it looked amazing! He then chatted me to turn the paper over, and on the back was written: “Hey, I was wondering if I can ask you out. If you want to, say ‘YES’. If you don’t, do a back-flip.” Of course, I did the back-flip!… Just kidding. I said YES!
We ended up going to Buffalo Wild Wings two weeks after, and we immediately hit it off. On April 25, 2012, we made our romance official while watching The Little Mermaid (Wow, we really sound like Disney freaks!). I’m not sure if it was his endless (lame) jokes or his really shy awkwardness, but he stole my heart from that day, and I have no doubt that he will continue to do the same forever and ever and ever.
How We Met – by Leo: It was late 2011 when I was hired at a new workplace. Little did I know that I would meet the love of my life and my future wife! At first sight, I definitely knew she was quite the looker. But being the shy person that I was, months passed by before we held a decent conversation. So she just remained the cute co-worker that I barely knew and admired from a distance.
If I remember correctly, I believe she said something to me first through G-chat (Thank you Google). Starting with this short exchange of words, we began talking more and more. I was ecstatic that we no longer had to be strangers at work! I even found out she was trying to find my inactive Facebook page. She added me as her friend, only to cancel the request right away. She later told me that she cancelled the request because she didn’t want to seem too interested… too bad I had already seen the email notification!
Over the months, we got to know each other’s personality, our likes and dislikes, and our history. As I talked with her and saw her more often, I realized Joanne was without a doubt, the most beautiful, funny, loving, and kind woman I have ever known. I knew that I had to take it to the next level.
After weeks of debating, I mustered up the courage to ask her out on a date. Of course, she said YES, and we completely hit it off from there. I instantly fell in love with her, and I knew that one day, God willing, I would marry her. It honestly didn’t take long for me to realize that she was the one for me.
From our first date until now, Joanne and I have grown together tremendously. We have shared many laughs, adventures, and incredible moments together. Now that I am engaged to the woman of my dreams, we have a lifetime of greatness to look forward to together.
how they asked: January 2013 had finally come around, and it was the start of a new year. I wanted to make 2013 the most memorable year of my life, and hopefully of Joanne’s life as well. So I started to look around for a ring to propose to Joanne. With her very obvious “clues” about her ideal ring, I began my research. After many hours of searching, I was ecstatic to have found the perfect ring.
With the ring picked out, I had another daunting task ahead of me: planning and executing the most memorable proposal for Joanne. I needed a beautiful setting, an element of surprise, a professional videographer and photographer, decorations, and friends and family to surprise her right after we had our “moment”.
The setting for the beginning of our journey to becoming a married couple was Villa Del Sol in Downtown Fullerton. It was romantic and conveniently located right next to Tranquil Tea Lounge, where Joanne and her best friends would occasionally meet to chat. I secretly contacted her friends and devised a plan to have them meet at Tranquil Tea Lounge that day, while I was across the street preparing with our other close friends and family.
After many secret conversations with her friends (and almost getting caught several times), the big day had finally come. I remember the night before, I was so nervous and excited that I barely got any sleep. Joanne was at Tranquil Tea Lounge with her friends while I was “helping my parents move.” As soon as she received a handwritten note from a worker at the Lounge, telling her to come to Villa Del Sol, the night was history!
If you guys haven’t seen it already, check out the video below to visualize how it all went down.
Videography by VELO Film Studios