How They Met

Sean and Mariah’s story started during the daily 15 minute periods between Sean and Mariah’s Japanese and Chinese classes at Lehigh University! Though they had undoubtedly been at many late night parties together before this and unknowingly crossed paths, they solidified their connection with frequent catch ups after Sean’s class got out and while Mariah was hurriedly finishing her homework before the class bell rang—TBH there wasn’t actually a class bell but it sounds cooler that way so we’re going with it.

What Came Next

Fast forward a few years, and they found themselves with college degrees and jobs that brought them to different coasts! Sean in San Francisco and Mariah in New York City. They endured 2 years of LDR life with frequent visits and coordinated FaceTimes before Sean moved back to the East Coast. Over the next few years, they spent time together in NYC exploring art museums, going to comedy shows, attending many concerts (s/o to Sean for introducing Mariah to multiple bands she had never heard of but now loves), frequenting neighborhood dive bars, and more, until they moved into their first apartment together in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn in the summer of 2020 and welcomed their beloved Portuguese Water Dog, Pepper to the fam!

The Proposal

On the weekend of their 11 year anniversary in April, Sean had suggested they go to Brooklyn Botanical Garden to celebrate. Much to Mariah’s surprise, this seemingly logical anniversary activity was a proposal in disguise! Sean popped the Q by a gorgeous cherry blossom tree in the garden and coordinated a celebration afterwards with some of their closest friends and both sets of parents (!!!) at one of their favorite local bars—Sunny’s in Red Hook.