Erin & I first met when we were just assistants. Erin had gotten mad with power having just gotten a corporate card and was encouraged to network. She thought “maybe Happy Madison” and found my email. I suggested the most romantic and not at all convenient to my apartment location. The Den on sunset. A consummate professional. We immediately hit it off. Erin would like to remind everyone that I was sitting down when she walked in, and she had NO IDEA I was tall. We discovered we had so much in common. Mainly we both loved the undervalued, before its time, film Mystery Men. And we even spent the same week in Maine every year on family vacation. Staying merely twenty minutes from each other. Erin proved she knows everything interesting happening in Los Angeles and took me to a midnight funk show. Where I was able to show off some dancing prowess. We shared a very professional first kiss on the dance floor. Fast forward a few years. Our attempts at reconnecting foiled by our demands as young professionals and a terrible forever ex boyfriend. Finally Erin remembered me and added me on Instagram. To which I responded very cool with an immediate “Where have you been?” We went out again, this time wasting no time. And that was January 2020 We have perfect timing.

Although Eli is convinced I knew it was coming, I can promise you I did not. Of course, I knew it was coming EVENTUALLY. We had survived a global pandemic in a one bedroom apartment together, met each other's families (and work families), and witnessed each other get food poisoning - more than once. There's really no going back from that. The night before, Eli asked me if I wanted to go on "a long walk up a hill or something." A real planner, this one. So I admit, I was a little suspicious. I suggested we go somewhere to walk around outside, like the botanical garden. It was ungodly hot that day, and I was thinking in the back of my mind that a ring might be coming, but dreading photos with sweat dripping down my face. I waited. And waited. And before I knew it, we were back in the car. That's when I figured it wasn't happening - how could you pass up proposing at the botanical garden? So Eli had planned for us to go to our favorite pizza spot, which was closed when we got there due to renovations. So we went to a new spot that was buzzing with flies and local jabronies. That spot is now closed, I'm assuming because of the aforementioned flies and jabronies. We then went to our favorite arcade bar after a little coaxing from me. We got home and I have to admit, I was incredibly disappointed. I sulkily started to go up the stairs, and he mumbles, "Erin, wait." I turned around to see him on the ground, and I swear to you that I thought he had fallen and needed help getting up. Nope, he was on one knee and I was truly shocked. I of course jumped him so quickly I didn't give him an answer until after I kissed him a bunch. After he puts the (stunning, perfect, incredible) ring on my finger, he yells, "Hey Denise, she said yes!" My best friend and her fiancé was waiting upstairs with flowers and champagne for the occasion (!!!). Turns out they also set up a camera to capture the whole thing on video. Can you believe?! I got such an amazing full day of things I love with the person I love. And now I get to marry him! -Erin