Hello, friends and family! We are so excited to share how our adventure began and how it led us right here, to this moment.

How We Met 💌

Picture this: July 2023. We connected on an online dating app, but it was a shared love for exploration that truly sparked the conversation. Benjamin had mentioned his travels to Croatia in his profile, and since Elayne was planning a trip there that October, she immediately reached out!

She was so impressed by his depth of knowledge about Croatia and travel in general—and he seemed like such a genuinely nice person—so she agreed to meet him. Our first date was at a wonderful Afghani restaurant in Hayward. We spent the evening laying the foundation for what would become our life together, discovering our mutual passion for travel and music.

The Adventure Continues 🌍

Since that first date, our life has been a whirlwind of stamps in our passports! We truly are just getting started, but we've already shared incredible memories traveling.

Our Home in the Bay ✨

In October 2024, we took the next big step and moved into our home. We currently reside in Oakland, California. We absolutely love it here! We are so happy to be immersed in the diversity and energy of the Bay Area, with everything we love close by—from the mountains of Tahoe for skiing to the beautiful beaches.

The Proposal 🌅

This past summer, during a trip to Bali, Indonesia, Benjamin made our biggest adventure yet official! After a beautiful, romantic dinner on the beach, he proposed while we were taking a walk on Sanur Beach. It was the most perfect moment, and the easiest "yes" of Elayne's life.

We are so grateful for all the miles we’ve traveled and the steps we’ve taken that have brought us to this incredible time. Now, we can't wait to celebrate our next big adventure—marriage—with all of you!