Annie & Joon

I literally have no recollection of this happening. As far as I'm concerned, we did not meet until the crazy police story (read on to find out more).

Joon returned to Utah to go skiing with Nate. On their way to Park City, however, they got pulled over by a police officer for an expired registration. The cop impounded the car with everything in it - skis and all - and left them stranded in the middle of practically nowhere. Nate called Annie to come pick them up. Selflessly - and, dare I say, heroically - she drove the hour round trip to save the two criminals, chatting up Joon on the way back to put him at ease. Their first conversation was about books. Because they had “nothing better to do” (their words), they invited Annie to an escape room, dinner, and drinks before Joon left the next morning (any guesses on who took him to the airport?).

Personally, I think I've gotten much better at telling this story over the years. Come catch me over a glass of scotch, I'll tell you the full story with all the bells and whistles.

Annie and Joon chatted constantly over Facebook Messenger after Joon returned home from his trip. Re-reading those early messages, one is left with a strong urge to gouge out one’s eyes due to the extreme cringe, but they thought they were clever at the time. Both argue that they dropped strong hints that they “liked” the other in these messages, but neither got a good enough sense so they both must be pretty terrible communicators. Not a great way to start out a relationship, alas.

I cannot confirm or deny the existence of purported cringe texts.

Also known as the week shit covid got real (in the US). Joon flew back out to Utah ostensibly to ski, but his ulterior motive was to try and ask Annie out. They spent a lovely weekend walking through picturesque Park City and skiing down the slopes of Sundance, where Joon gave Annie a mini-lesson. Annie then taught Joon how to make her signature lasagne back at her place. Joon waited until Nate was driving him back to the airport to leave to ask Annie out - over text. Can you guess her reply?

Ok listen, I didn't ask her out over text. It's not like that, really. We had talked about it before lasagne and I just confirmed it with her over text, you know?

Annie and Joon were long distance for the beginning of their relationship, but they were able to each visit each other once. However, with covid only getting worse, tightening restrictions on travel, and remote work required long-term, Joon decided to invite Annie to visit him indefinitely in Chicago to isolate together. So, she packed up her biggest suitcase and her dog Pem and flew out to Chicago to isolate with Joon. It was intended for maybe two or three weeks, but things went so well that Annie and Pem never left!

Don't tell Annie this, but we all know the crucial part of the story here. Of course I really did it for the dog. Pemberley and I have been each other's favorites ever since. We'll see if Annie ever figures it out.

In 2021 Annie decided to take a major leap and go to grad school - in the UK. So, in August of 2021, Annie, Joon, and Pem packed up their whole lives and flew over to start anew in London, where they’ve been ever since.

Did you know that I had never set foot in the UK until the day I moved there? Talk about trust in a relationship...

Joon took Annie to Korea to see his home country and hometown, meet his extended family, and explore his cultural heritage. It was an amazing trip. Joon says it wasn’t a test, but Annie’s pretty sure it was, given what happened less than two weeks later!

It was not a test.

Over three years into their relationship, with Annie done with school and about to start a full-time job, Joon decided to ask a very important question. How exactly Joon asked that question, we’ll never know, because Annie blacked out during the key speech and doesn’t remember any of it. She does, however, fully remember the lovely day Joon had planned - stopping by The Nook, their favorite milkshake spot, then walking through Hampstead Heath, their favorite London park near where they used to live, getting down on one knee by the city skyline lookout they had walked to countless times prior - conveniently in front of a professional photographer - traipsing through the park to take photographs, and then a surprise gathering of many of Annie’s closest London friends at their favorite Italian joint nearby for an engagement celebration lunch. They were an hour late to the lunch, so let’s hope for your sakes that they’ve improved their record in time for the wedding.

Guys I CRUSHED it. I mean it was PERFECT in every way. Huge props to myself for planning it all out perfectly. Absolutely nailed it, I'm the best. Shoutout to London weather for forecasting rain and then deciding to be fabulous last minute. Just don't worry about the part where I almost lost my phone and Annie almost lost her sunglasses. Honestly it's a miracle we were only an hour late.

The big day! We can't wait for you to be a part of it with us!