In the midst of the random rainy season we had in California last December, the sky cleared up just in time for Brent & Irene. A month and a half before this special day, Brent contacted me (he’s actually high school friends with John!) with a very thorough and well thought out plan on how he’d ask Irene to marry him! I was pretty impressed by the formal document he drafted up with all the details written out to the tee! I could tell that he put a lot of thought into his proposal, and that he really really loved Irene. So as you can imagine, I was super excited to hear more about their story, and help document this special moment in their relationship! :)
“Irene and I met each other through mutual friends at PUNCH Lounge in Pasadena on Friday, October 3, 2014 at my friend’s Connie’s birthday party. Her boyfriend, Brian, invited Irene to come to the party as well, since they interned together at Sony Pictures Entertainment (to this day both of them admit that they thought we would be a perfect match, but they wanted it to happen naturally). I went to high school and college with Connie and I’ve known Brian since I was 6 years old (we played Evergreen Youth basketball together for 8 years, 1st to 8th grade). During the party, Brian introduced me to Irene since I worked for Disney in Human Resources and Irene at the time was looking for an internship. We started talking about work related stuff…and what started as a simple networking opportunity turned into a 3 hour conversation.”
– Brent
And much to Connie & Brian’s amusement, a relationship between Brent & Irene naturally did unfold! During their conversation, Brent slyly discovered that Irene was single. He then naturally got her number after inviting her to his church. Smooth, Brent! ;)
“I was looking for a home church and heard a lot of good things about Evergreen, so Brent invited me to attend service with him that same Sunday. Keep in mind I just met this guy on Friday. He took me to church, I really enjoyed the service and then after service he took me to Marie Calendar’s for breakfast and again, we talked for another 3 hours straight.At breakfast, he mentioned that Connie was going to have a part 2 birthday party at Ventura Beach where we would bbq and eat oysters at The Jolly Oyster. From there, we started talking more and became interested in dating each other.”
– Irene
Brent & Irene each shared with me individually that the story of how they met is their favorite memory during their dating relationship! I love that! Irene said that to her, it’s the “perfect love story.” :) Brent shares, “It’s just crazy and ironic how one night at PUNCH, and a beach event can lead to so many memorable moments and eventually a marriage proposal.”
“The night that I met Brent, I knew we made a connection. That night when he looked into my eyes as we talked for 3 hours straight, it just felt so right.”
– Irene
That night, they both acknowledged how sweet and kind hearted the other was–and this is something I instantly got a feel for when I finally got to officially meet the both of them! Brent saw that Irene was an intelligent, woman of God, & Irene saw Brent as a sincere catch! “I thought he was a catch that I never I’d have a chance with him, but over a year later I couldn’t go a day without him.” Haha! Funny how things happen! ;)
Now before I go on with their story, let’s take a look into the day when Brent asked Irene officially to soon become his wife!
Brent & Irene’s first date was actually at a “beach event”! Their friend Connie had a birthday celebration part 2 and Irene’s best friend Emily was supposed to go with Brent & Irene to the event, but she bailed on Irene on purpose so that they could be alone on the car ride there! Haha! This unplanned intimate beach trip is what the both of them historically consider their first date! So sweet! Another “naturally” created event in their relationship! :)
This being said, the concept behind Brent’s proposal was to mix both the elements of when they first met and their first date together! He wanted to ideally recreate their first date together using a PUNCH and rustic theme! Since PUNCH Lounge is now closed, he recreated the concept of it with a lemonade fountain (pink because it’s her favorite color), and since their first date was at a beach, he chose the Blue Lantern Inn as the perfect intimate location with its beautiful view of the docks of Dana Point!
“Before the actual proposal day, I spent about 6 months researching, gathering props, and planning. The most challenging part was probably hiding all the props in my room and keeping this all a secret!!”
What a good guy! Brent is apparently pretty good on giving elaborate, romantic gestures for his loved one! Irene shared that a month after their first date, he asked her to be his girlfriend in another sweet, well thought out way!
“About a month later, Brent asked me to be his girlfriend. He brought me to Disneyland and as we were driving up the parking structure, he played “God Gave Me You” by Dave Barnes and then after he parked he gave me a bag…inside were two shirts…one for me that said “Ill be your Minnie” and the other said “Ill be your Mickey” and that how we started dating officially.”
Isn’t that just so cute? Sigh, their story just makes me so happy! :) It’s like watching a movie! Anyway, back to the proposal… my was it a beautiful day!
“…On the day that Brent proposed (12/13), one day after my birthday…he told me to dress nice cause we were going to go to a cute brunch place, then visit Heisler Park (a beautiful park in Laguna Beach), have a private wine tasting, then go to a fancy dinner. My thought was well if Brent was going to propose that day…it’d probably have to be at the park overlooking the ocean because lunch, wine tasting or at dinner would be a really weird place to propose to someone. So we went to lunch, and then we went to the park..we walked around and Brent suggested we walk over to this area that had a nice rose garden…where I thought he was going to propose…except he didn’t. Instead he says oh this was a nice park, let’s go to the wine tasting now. So I thought to myself…well I guess it isn’t happening this year…maybe he will propose in 2016.”
– Irene
I remember clearly that Brent had to convince Irene pretty hard not to take her purse and all her stuff with her as they went wine tasting! Haha! As many girls would imagine, Irene was really confused as to why she couldn’t just bring her purse with her as they walked out the door! Haha! What a surprise she walked into! :)
“I was so shocked and surprised that I think I blanked out and was still thinking about wine tasting. But it’s a crazy feeling that I don’t think anybody could be prepared for. I’ve always felt so blessed to have Brent in my life, but the day he proposed, I felt extra blessed because he did everything he could to give me the best proposal I could’ve ever imagined.”
And this is when me and my ninja crew (aka John, and Chris & Grace from Chris Ahn Productions) were discovered! You can take a look at their proposal video soon on his blog! :)
After we gave them some time with each other, and Brent’s family, who set up the whole scene for Brent while they were away (such an awesome family!), we got to spend some time with this beautiful couple and had a little mini portraits session!
“I felt like I was on top of the earth! It was a crazy and surreal feeling…I couldn’t stop smiling and kissing Irene after I proposed!”
– Brent
So, how’d Brent know he wanted to marry this lovely lady?
“I know it’s crazy to say this…but I had this crazy and surreal feeling the night I met Irene that she could be the one! We had this instant connection and chemistry that I never felt before (our eyes connected and I remember our knees accidentally touching that night). We also both shared with each other about 1-2 months into dating that this could be it and at the 7 month mark Irene and I had just returned from Hawaii from my annual family vacation and after that we started ring shopping.”
– Brent
“I knew I wanted to marry Brent when I couldn’t picture my life without him.”
– Irene
I couldn’t help but smile photographing this sweet couple! The joy of this special moment in their relationship was just written all over their faces! Brent looked SO grateful to have Irene be his fiance, and Irene just looked so overwhelmed with joy!
Brent even had these sweet mason jar mugs made personalized for them! :)
“[Being engaged] feels fantastic! I wake up every morning feeling like I won the lottery over and over again because I will get to spend my whole life and wake up next to my best friend…the sweetest, most beautiful and caring woman that I’ve ever laid eyes on.”
– Brent
“One thing that Brent does for me that makes me feel loved is when he puts me first and he prays for me. I really like it when he holds my hand and we pray together.”
– Irene
“…It’s hard to name just “one” thing that Irene does that makes me feel loved. It’s the “way” Irene is as a person that makes me feel loved. She is such a compassionate person with a super loving and caring heart. Before I met Irene I thought I knew what “love” was, but after being with Irene, she has taught me that true love is “unconditional”…to give and not expect anything in return, that it has no conditions, and that love is loving someone else for who they are…at their best, at their worst, and for all their imperfections.”
– Brent
CONGRATULATIONS BRENT & IRENE! :) I know that from the bottom of our hearts, we are just SO thrilled for the both of you!!
Now before we part ways, here’s a bit of advice that each of them give to those of you who are dating & maybe close to engagement! ;)
“I believe in dating with a purpose so I would suggest talking about future plans so everyone is on the same page.”
– Irene
“The biggest advice that I can give to people that are seriously dating and looking to be engaged is that when you know that the person is the one, spoil that person, make it known that she’s special, and love her like how God loves us…unconditionally.”
– Brent
Well, there ya have it, folks! One of the sweetest love stories for two of the sweetest people I’ve come to meet! :)
Happy Friday!