Though they didn't realize it at the time, the couple officially met on October 21, 2012 at the Cool Patch Pumpkins corn maze, the Guinness World Record "Largest Temporary Maze," in Dixon, CA; a chance encounter, as both Ajee and Daniel were there for a University of California, Davis (UC Davis) social event. The couple wouldn't formally meet until May 18, 2013 at the UC Davis Quad, during the 43rd annual Black Family Day event - a celebration of the presence of the African diaspora on campus. Daniel was enamored with Ajee from the moment that he saw her. Fortunate for him, a mutual friend would go on to facilitate more opportunities for the couple to bond. They officially began dating a few months later, on July 13, 2013.

I knew that I wanted to propose by the close of the year, and was almost set on Big Sur, CA. However, proposal plans took a dramatic turn when I came across a flight deal to the island nation of Malta, in the Mediterranean Sea. I had already purchased the engagement ring the previous month and now just had to ask Ajee, on a whim, if she wanted to take a trip to an undisclosed location in Europe for a weekend getaway. She agreed, and we arrived three months later. I had a photoshoot planned for the two of us around the capital city of Valletta and secretly worked out where I would propose. To my dismay, we arrived to find media crews frantically setting up for an event. Apparently, I had chosen the single day and location for the start of the 2022 Rolex Middle Sea sailboat race. Nevertheless, I toughed it out and proposed in front of the iconic Malta Siege Bell War Memorial. Nobody even batted any eyelash, and I was relieved that the proposal went off without a hitch. The rest of the trip consisted of a romantic cruise around the Grand Harbor onboard a traditional Maltese boat, and a day trip to the neighboring Italian island of Sicily. After three days in the Mediterranean, we arrived back in San Francisco, engaged!

Daniel and I typically let deals and discounts dictate where we travel, but I look forward to our honeymoon as one of those rare instances where we'll be able to deliberately choose a destination of interest. The only issue is deciding amongst both of our wish lists. Daniel is most excited about the prospect of visiting Egypt and/or the Kenya-Tanzania region (Nairobi, Mt. Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar, etc.). While I am looking forward to an island getaway in the Maldives and/or an ultramodern retreat in Dubai. Regardless of the destination, I will just be happy to have my travel bae by my side.

I love Ajee's perseverance and drive. She is strong-minded and I can always rely on her to push me to be greater. As we embark on this new journey in life, I look forward to seeing all that she will accomplish in her career, and as both a wife and eventually mother. Ajee appreciates the compassion that I have towards others, and my ability to approach situations with a positive perspective. She loves my spontaneity when it comes to my interest in traveling to exotic places and discovering new experiences. She tells me that she feels protected and cared for, both physically and emotionally, knowing that I always have her best interest at heart. She looks forward to seeing me continue to grow as a man and someday as a father.

Daniel and I are looking forward to continuing to grow together. We are excited to start a family and introduce our future child(ren) to new experiences of the world; hopefully instilling in them, perspective and empathy.

Ajee and I stayed at Hotel Xcaret Arte, an all-inclusive resort in Playa del Carmen, in April 2022 for my 30th birthday. I must say that we are well-traveled, but this was our first time at an all-inclusive resort. It was adults-only, had gorgeous grounds/facilities, luxurious accommodations, and unparalleled access to restaurants, adventure parks, tours, and other experiences. Unfortunately, we did not have anywhere near enough time to try everything that the resort had to offer. If we were planning a destination wedding, it would've certainly been there.

Ajee and I are both slightly scared of heights/falling. However, we were planning a trip to Puerto Rico in November 2021 when we discovered that the territory is home to Toro Verde, the largest adventure park in the Americas. Housed within the park is the world's second longest zipline, El Monstruo. Though neither of us had ever ziplined before, we knew we had to make it the focal point of our limited time on the island. It was a fantastic experience.

We get asked this question a lot, but traveling has been a fairly recent revelation for us. Together, we've been to 18 states and 10 countries. By the end of 2023 we will have hopefully increased our count by 1 state and 1 country, with only 1 more continent to go (Antarctica).

Daniel and I can't agree on the winner, but it is definitely between Sunset Monalisa restaurant in Los Cabos or Sunday Brunch at Las Cuevas restaurant within Hotel Xcaret Mexico, Playa del Carmen. The former is a picturesque indoor-outdoor space, perched atop a jagged cliff, overlooking the the majestic Pacific Ocean. While the latter is a beautiful open-air cavern, carved out of the natural rock formations, and surrounded by both an emerald river and white sandy coves. I guess there's just something about Mexico!

Broderick Roadhouse in Walnut Creek, CA. He swears by the Boar Burger. I'm a fan of the Salmon BLT. ALWAYS substitute the side for Bahn Mi Fries. Though we don't frequent them often, due to distance, we are also huge fans of both Fixins Soul Kitchen and Nixtaco in the Sacramento area.