On September 29th, 2019, Derek boldly asked Natalie out on their first date.

Derek and Natalie had known each other for about a year, having gone to the University of San Francisco (USF) together and having had some mutual friends from church. But neither one of them remembers their first impression of each other—since college, they’ve always been good friends.

On their first date, they ended up at Kiki Japanese in San Francisco. After scouring for parking, they huddled by the entrance, patiently waiting for a table.

As they sat down, there was an aura of familiarity between them, yet it felt oddly different, sitting down in a place other than the USF cafeteria. They ordered quickly, and the waitress scurried away to the kitchen.

Eventually, the food came and the conversation between Natalie and Derek came to an utter standstill.

Natalie was shocked by how much Derek was inhaling as he came up for air between bites. He finished both of his orders before Natalie had gotten halfway through her single roll of sushi.

One of their friends had a half-eaten chicken katsu when he asked,

“Are you going to finish that?”

The friend reluctantly offered Derek the katsu, which he ate the majority of, along with the last bits of Natalie's sushi.

Natalie watched the whole sequence of events in silence as her eyes grew wide, entranced and flustered by this whole new side of Derek she had just witnessed.

It wasn’t until after the date when Derek realized what had just transpired. Embarrassed, he wrote an apology in a card to Natalie the following week, expressing how he also felt safe to be himself with her.

Natalie found Derek’s appetite (and friendship) endearing. Derek’s authenticity around Natalie continued to build over the course of their friendship, bringing them closer and closer.

Two years later, on November 13th, 2021, Derek built up the courage to ask Natalie to be his girlfriend.

Here are some of their favorite memories since then:

May 28th, 2022: Natalie and Derek attended their first wedding together.

October 31st, 2022: Natalie and Derek’s first Halloween as a couple.

November 14th, 2022: Natalie and Derek’s first anniversary.

March 31st, 2023: Natalie and Derek flew out to Chicago together, where Derek met Natalie’s family for the first time.

October 15th, 2023: Derek proposed to Natalie, 100th date (approximately).

April 12th, 2024: Derek and Natalie babysat Natalie’s nephews and went to go see Shrek the Musical (Jr).

May 18th, 2024: Derek and Natalie took their engagement photos.

December 14th, 2024: Derek and Natalie will get married.

We’d love for you to come celebrate our wedding with us!

Love,

Derek & Natalie