“What are you doing for the holiday?”
A simple question that led to a lifetime.
When Ken matched with Erin on the dating app Coffee Meets Bagel, he never thought answering a question about his Memorial Day Weekend plans would be his first step on the path to meeting his future wife. But that’s the thing about Erin and Ken’s love story—so much of it was blissfully unexpected.
After months of dead end conversations and bad (really really bad) dates, Erin was starting to give up on today’s men altogether—where was Prince Charming, Jon Snow, or Mr. Big? Still, disappointments notwithstanding, she was willing to give this particularly interesting stranger a chance to change her mind.
As it turned out, the two could not stop talking to each other. Ken’s aforementioned Memorial Day Weekend plans changed from “going to Ocean City” to “texting non-stop with this amazing girl.” Erin’s skepticism melted away as the two went from discussing the usual online dating topics and to truly beginning to get to know each other. By the end of the weekend, Ken had asked Erin to meet him for dinner that next Friday.
And of course, the unexpected happened.
“I can’t wait to meet you.”
TACOS = LOVE
Tuesday of that week, Ken offhandedly, yet sincerely, told Erin, “I can’t wait to meet you!” Ever bold and courageous, Erin simply said “Then don’t wait. How do you feel about guacamole?” A bit shocked, and more than a little impressed Ken readily accepted as his plans for a fancy French Friday night dinner quickly morphed into Taco Tuesday at Buena Onda in Fairmount.
If you ask Ken today he will still debate you on the topic of love at first sight, but really, he’s splitting hairs. On their last first date ever, both Erin and Ken were swept off their feet. They met around 6:30 for dinner, walked all around Philadelphia, shared a first kiss, and chatted the evening away in Rittenhouse Park. Erin’s Uber picked her up just before 3:00 am, Grandma Poulson called her a “dirty stay out,” and Ken went back to University City with stars in his eyes. You could, perhaps, say that their date went well. In case you were wondering, they still got that fancy French dinner on Friday too.
She said,”YAASS!”
on a Tuesday!
Flash forward to August of 2018. Erin and Ken had spent more than three wonderful years falling in love, hosting elaborate theme parties, obsessing over Westworld theories, singing Disney songs—you get the drift. Of course, by this point it was glaringly obvious to them (and to everyone) that they were meant to be together. You may have noticed that both Erin and Ken have a propensity to plan ahead. SO it should come as little surprise that the two had worked together to find a beautiful engagement ring and each had a fair idea of when it would be ready. Surprising Erin with this ring proved to be nearly impossible Despite Ken’s best efforts, Erin had her suspicions. Ken had invited Erin to a fancy dinner in Rittenhouse Square—supposedly a work function—on Friday August 17. Erin was, to put it kindly, a little skeptical. She was also correct. Ken was planning to propose in Rittenhouse Park that evening.
And of course, the unexpected happened.
In a miraculous turn of events the ring was ready three days early—on Tuesday, August 14. It was perfectly reminiscent of Erin and Ken’s first date. There was no time for indecision. Ken left work early and began furiously planning with Erin’s dear friends (and illustrious members of the wedding party) Molly and Sarah to get Erin into Philly that evening. After all, there was only one place where he could ask Erin to be his wife—right near that small taco shop where the course of their lives had unexpectedly changed forever. And so, in a nearby park in Fairmount, Ken confessed to Erin that she had suspected correctly; he was going to propose that Friday. But just as he couldn’t wait to meet her all those years ago for their first date, he knew as soon as the ring was ready, he wouldn’t be able to wait to propose.
He got down on one knee.
She said yes.