Stephanie and Manesh’s love story began in May 2020, in the most modern way possible—on a dating app. Their first meeting was spontaneous, the kind that neither of them expected to lead anywhere. But from that moment on, they just never stopped spending time together, quickly forming a deep connection during the COVID lockdown.

With the world at a standstill, their relationship didn’t follow the typical dating path. Instead of fancy dinner dates and nights out, their early days were filled with quiet moments at home—cooking dinners together, sharing happy hours on Stephanie’s back patio, taking Kinto for long walks around Patterson Park, and even Stephanie crashing at Manesh’s apartment after her nightshifts. The unusual circumstances meant they got to know each other on a deeper level, and by the time Manesh bought his house in October 2020, Stephanie had practically moved in—though, if you ask Manesh, she didn’t officially move in until February 2021.

Over the next few years, they built a life together in Baltimore, turning their house into a home. Manesh, ever the adventurer, encouraged Stephanie to take a leap in her career and become a travel respiratory therapist so they could move around and experience new places together. In June 2022, they left Baltimore and embarked on their first big move to Charlottesville, Virginia, followed by six months in Fredericksburg. With every move, their bond grew stronger, and their life became an ever-evolving adventure.

Then came September 30, 2023—the day Manesh pulled off the ultimate surprise. With the help of Stephanie’s friends, he convinced her that she was planning a simple dinner out to catch up with friends. Stephanie even made a reservation herself, completely unaware that the restaurant would be the backdrop for one of the biggest moments of her life. When the time finally came, Manesh got down on one knee—but in the excitement of it all, he forgot to actually say anything. After a pause, Stephanie had to break the silence with, “Do you want to ask me something?” before he finally got the words out. After a heartfelt proposal and a photoshoot capturing the magic of the day, Manesh had one more surprise up his sleeve—a celebratory dinner with their closest friends and family.

Since then, their journey has taken them across the state of Virginia—to Norfolk for a year, and now back north to Arlington, where they are getting ready to start their next big adventure: marriage. What started as an unexpected night turned into a lifetime of love, laughter, and countless moves—but no matter where they go, home will always be wherever they’re together.