The Love Story
From the first swipe to shared adventures across the world, our story has been one of discovery, growth, and an evergrowing love. Each chapter of our story has brought us closer together, from navigating the challenges of a socially distanced world to building a life filled with joy, laughter, and cherished memories. As we look back on the moments that have shaped us, we're excited to share the story of how we found each other, built a life together, and are now preparing for the next chapter of our story: marriage.
The Spark: 2020 to 2021
In the summer of 2020, during a time when love stories often began online, Andrewnet and Laolu met on Tinder. Just as Andrewnet was about to delete the app, she received a notification of a new message from Laolu. Curious, she opened it to find that he had not only taken the time to read her profile but had also filled out his own. They quickly discovered they shared many common interests.
After two virtual dates, they knew they wanted to meet in person. Laolu planned a perfect first date, bringing a blanket, a speaker, and a hidden bottle of wine to Golden Gate Park. When they finally met face-to-face, the connection was instant, and Andrewnet was already planning their next socially distanced adventure.
As the world began to reopen with the rollout of vaccines and easing of restrictions, they stepped into the post-pandemic world together. They celebrated six months of dating with a wine-tasting trip to Sonoma, traveled to Orlando for Laolu’s 28th birthday, and explored San Francisco and Oakland.
Building the Bond: 2021 to 2022
Andrewnet moved from her hometown of East Oakland to the vibrant Mission District of San Francisco, just a 10-minute walk from Laolu’s new apartment (though she insists it was purely a coincidence!), Laolu no longer had to cross the bridge to where he affectionately referred to as the “Eastern Lands” to see her. The couple took full advantage of their newfound proximity, enjoying workday lunch dates in Dolores Park, weeknight dinners they cooked together, and evenings spent exploring the city’s vibrant arts and culture scene.
In August 2021, Laolu met Andrewnet’s lioness of a mother, Annette. During their first meeting, Annette sternly reminded Laolu several times that Andrewnet was her only daughter. However, as they spent more time together, Annette’s initial protectiveness softened, and she gushed that the two were a perfect match.
By November 2021, it was Andrewnet’s turn to meet Laolu’s family. She traveled to Texas for Thanksgiving, where she expressed her gratitude by baking her famous sweet potato pie. After a few days together, Laolu’s father, Bankole (nicknamed “Banky”), warmly expressed his excitement about gaining a daughter.
One night, as they walked back to Laolu’s apartment after a concert, Andrewnet mentioned that she wished she had moved into a quintessential San Francisco apartment. Laolu smiled and said that they could find one for the two of them. Excited by the idea, they began searching for a place to call their own.
Shared Spaces & Lives: 2022 to 2023
As soon as Laolu stepped into the Edwardian apartment, he knew it was perfect. Without hesitation, they filled out the application and moved in together in January 2022. Having already lived close to each other, the transition was smooth. They quickly adapted to sharing a space and began to learn each other’s quirks—like Laolu’s habit of keeping a “good box” and Andrewnet’s ability to fall asleep on the couch at the drop of the hat. Despite their busy schedules and varied hobbies, they found a rhythm that worked for them, embracing a routine as much as possible. Living together only reinforced how well they complemented each other, with their similar social batteries, aligned priorities, and mutual love for late-night anime binges and dungeon crawls.
Their first year living together was filled with hosting gatherings at their apartment, strengthening friendships, and fostering a sense of community. Laolu played the alto saxophone at a local café, while Andrewnet continued to organize a language exchange meetup, both of them building connections in San Francisco.
In March 2023, they embarked on their first international trip together—a two-week adventure in Japan. Though they’d previously crossed paths in Mexico City back in July 2021, Japan was their first intentional journey abroad as a couple, marking a new milestone in their relationship.
The Proposal and Beyond: 2024 to Now
On a crisp December night in 2023, nestled in the warmth of one of their favorite weeknight date spots, Laolu told Andrewnet that he wanted to ask her mother for her hand in marriage. Ever the planner, he then asked what kind of proposal she would like. Andrewnet shared that she wanted something private, a surprise, and a moment that could be captured. What she didn’t reveal at the time was that her ideal proposal would take place in Golden Gate Park—a place filled with memories of their dates, frolicking with their dog, and spending time with friends.
In May 2024, Laolu suggested a date to the Japanese Tea Garden in the park. As Andrewnet was getting ready, she went to place her blanket in Laolu’s backpack, unaware that the engagement ring was hidden inside. While they strolled through the park, Laolu led her to the spot where they had shared their first in-person date back in September 2020.
As they continued walking, Andrewnet was puzzled when Laolu steered them away from the Japanese Tea Garden and towards the Moon Viewing Garden. There, she noticed two people she assumed were tourists as Laolu guided her to a wooden landing. He began his proposal speech, and although Andrewnet didn’t initially realize what was happening, she thought to herself, “He’s being so sweet on a random Wednesday! I can’t imagine how he’ll top this for the proposal.” It wasn’t until Laolu reached for the ring that she realized this was, in fact, the proposal of her dreams and those tourists were photographers.