In 2016, we matched on Tinder, and from our very first conversation, we both felt a spark. Manila was immediately drawn to Kees—tall, handsome, and, most eager to learn how he "made [himself] a hang glider once, and didn't die" Kees thought Manila was adorable and hilarious.

Our first date? Tacos at Paquitos in Capitol Hill. From there, it was late nights at bars and shows, frozen pizzas and Game of Thrones at Kees’s cozy studio, and the start of something real.

Once we knew we were a match, we started exploring the world together. Our first big international trip took us to Prague and Paris—Prague quickly becoming the favorite. The city had a calm, welcoming vibe that we instantly connected with. We loved walking through the winding cobblestone streets, getting lost in Old Town, and grabbing coffee by the Vltava River. One of our favorite memories was seeing the Charles Bridge at sunset, glowing in the evening light. At night, we’d find a cozy spot for dinner and a couple of Czech beers. It was the perfect mix of adventure and downtime, and it made us fall in love with traveling together.

Shortly after we moved in together, we got our pride and joy: our boy Milo. A couple days after we took him home we took him on a road-trip down the Pacific Coast highway. He was a trooper through the whole thing and he’s still our mutual best friend.

It was in our little apartment we started the tradition of cheeseburger day: on the anniversary of the day we got Milo we give him a whole cheeseburger. He still hasn’t gotten used to it and usually manages the whole thing in two bites.

We were planning a summer trip to Portugal when the pandemic hit. Manila worked on the frontlines with critical COVID patients while Kees adjusted to working remotely.

During that time, our sweet niece Vernen was born. We first met her through the back porch door, and weekly visits (still separated by that door) became a special ritual until it was safe to gather again.

Despite the challenges, we found joy in the little things—baking bread, mixing cocktails like we were pros, long video game sessions, and simply being together. That chapter reminded us how lucky we were to have each other.

In November 2022, we got engaged! Soon after, we bought our first home together and jumped straight into renovations, powered by the support of so many amazing friends and family (seriously, we couldn’t have done it without you).

Now, a decade after that first taco date, we’re finally saying 

“I do” on June 20, 2025.