Blake and Sooriya don't quite agree on how they met - but they've been through so much together over the last 10 years. After developing a trusted friendship, Blake and Sooriya took a leap of faith, not knowing where it would lead. But as time went on it was clear to everyone that they were headed for the aisle. Blake and Sooriya attended middle and high school together. They walked their first and last steps at UConn together. They remained committed to each other as Blake began law school in Boston and Sooriya started her career in New Jersey. Sooriya eventually found her way to Boston to pursue law school, where the two finally enjoyed living their adult lives in the same city. Their solid foundation made for a promising future.

After 9 years of dating, the summer of 2022 Blake decided it was time to ask Sooriya the question she had long waited to hear. While Sooriya was in Florida with her girlfriends one week in July, Blake visited her parents' house with a red velvet cake and asked for their blessing. They emphatically said yes. With their blessing, Blake arranged the plans to propose to Sooriya in Florence, Italy. Blake, Sooriya, and their friends arrived in Florence early on September 10, 2022 and spent the whole day gallivanting around the cobblestoned city. Despite heavy jetlag, the group dressed in their nicest clothes to grab a drink before dinner in Fiesole, a town just outside of Florence. As the sun started to set, Blake and Sooriya approached an overlook to take pictures, where Blake - ALAS - got down on one knee, and let the beautiful ring do the rest of the talking. Sooriya, overcome with emotion and with the stunning view in front of her, was able to finally say yes.