THE MEET CUTE

DAVID - On June 19th 2021 one cycling class changed our lives forever (courtesy of Chelsie). Unbeknownst to me, Chelsie had been talking me up to Kim as this guy with a big white truck and a cute mini Schnauzer named Hardy that I took everywhere. Of all the days to choose jorts and knee high socks, I chose the Pride Ride event and now Kim was thinking, “not this goofball in the front row wearing jorts”.

DAVID - Being as forgetful as she is, Kim lost her car keys right after class and I found them. It started with texts, phone calls, a spontaneous trip to the Virgin Islands, and a covid quarantine all in under one month.

THE REASON FOR VIETNAM

KIM- I've always wanted to get married in Vietnam, it's my birthplace and where half of my family still lives. We took a trip in September 2023 and we had the BEST time. I was so thankful that David loved Vietnam just as much as I do.

THE EUROTRIP

KIM - We landed in Barcelona for a packed 2 week trip from Spain to Portugal at the end of September 2024. Unbeknownst to me, David had been hiding the ring for several months and wanted to propose at some point on the trip. I had my suspicions, OBVI, but David had me fooled. I genuinely thought he was still searching for the "perfect" ring. Little did I know.

THE POTENTIAL PROPOSAL

Proposing to Kim was a wild ride (pun intended). I had a whole plan in Barcelona but our reservation got messed up, the mood was off, and I thought, “we’ve got another 12 days in Spain and Portugal, plenty of time…” The ring was in my bag so I was always ready.

Plan B - Camera broke

Plan C - Beachfront restaurant, desolate, weird music

Plan D - Sunset walk on the beach, KIM - “I don’t really feel like getting sandy”

Plan E - Sailboat proposal - might drop the ring in the ocean - nope

Plan F - Karaoke bar - perfect fit, we love it, and I can do it after our day sailing

THE NIGHTMARE

KIM - After a beautiful day of sailing the Algarve Coast with friends, we headed to our hotel after the sun had set. As we entered what felt like our 100th roundabout, a car pulled out in front of us, and the whole trip took a terrible turn. David softened my fall but was rushed to the hospital with a broken collarbone. It was the scariest night of my life. We were separated for 12 hours and unable to see each other because, without thinking, I told them we weren't married. The hospital was so small that only spouses were allowed to visit patients.

DAVID - I still had the ring in my bag, which Kim took when we were whisked away in separate ambulances. In the ER, I was asked for my passport and couldn’t risk Kim finding the ring in my bag, so I asked an officer to get it from her. In tears, scared, and injured, Kim was hesitant to let it go but finally handed it over - bullet dodged.

Plan G - Proposal in Lisbon, broken collarbone and all.

After laying on a couch for two days, I limped into Lisbon for a final attempt at a proposal. A key part of the story is that Kim and I had been filming an Instagram trend with outfit changes in new locations. This time, I had our friends Adam, Mandy, and CJ to assist with our standard issue recording and my secret plan—but now with the beautiful Rua Augusta Arch in the background.

THE ACTUAL PROPOSAL

DAVID - The evening was misty and cool. Kim, worried about my comfort and the logistics of our emergency return trip home, was not having it. She was reluctant to complete the video despite my numerous attempts to do so. At last, she relented.

We did one take - failure.

Two takes - nope.

Take three…A Thousand Years was resounding through the square from a busking violinist. I turned, dropped to one knee and pulled out the ring.

KIM - For anyone wondering if I knew.. ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? Of course I thought about it before the accident but it never crossed my mind again once we left the hospital. Especially on that night. We were flying out the next morning and I was already stressed. But leave it to David to always surprise me when I least expect it.

KIM & DAVID - And now we get to invite you all to immerse yourself in this country that we (and Anthony Bourdain) love so dearly. Its a country so rich in history and yet so young in independence. We're so excited to introduce you to the people of Vietnam, who have just celebrated 50 years of being a unified country. We can't wait for you to experience the food, the flavors, the outdoor stalls where recipes have been passed down through generations. We're relishing in sharing the culture of Vietnam with you; the motorbikes, the wild traffic that somehow flows, and the stories of war and redemption. Vietnam was divided and burned to the ground, yet found a way to rebuild and prosper. If you know us well, then you know it resembles our relationship to its core. Thanks for reading this far <3