How We Met
We met on a singles trip to China in 2005. Here’s video of our first meeting on the Great Wall of China.
Just kidding.
We actually met in glamorous Sunnyvale, California in the heart of Silicon Valley in 2005 while working at Yahoo. It was Chris’ first week at Yahoo!, and we met in the company-wide Editorial meeting. Here's a video of us on CNN talking about how we met for a segment on romance in the workplace. We even gave some tips for people thinking about making a move on a coworker.
Later that week at an after work gathering, Jess caught Chris’ attention with her karaoke performance of Snoop Dogg’s “Gin & Juice.” From that point on, karaoke was a focal point in our friendship. The next time we hungout at a work event, Chris karaoked INXS' "Need You Tonight," and Jess was impressed. Over the next 5 months, Jess and Chris were friends who enjoyed many nights of sushi at Ariake, drinks with co-workers at the Viceroy, Dance Dance Revolution competitions, and even a party at Arianna Huffington's house. Chris truly won Jess’ heart when he hit the all-time highest score at the skeet-shooting video game at Yahoo!s 2005 Year-End Party in Burlingame, California. It was at that moment, that Jessica knew that she had met her modern-day Renaissance Man - a guy who could grab a microphone and rock a mean Michael Hutchence and who was also an expert when wielding a shotgun. In short, she had met her match.
Over the following four years, we got serious, met each other’s parents, went parasailing and snorkeling in the Virgin Islands, moved in together, went on a road-trip to see MotoGP at Laguna Seca in 2006, dressed up as Britney Spears and Kfed for Halloween 2006, made a video that got over 13,000 views and went viral on Yahoo!, went to Burning Man, got a 2nd dog (Maggie!), bought a townhouse in Marina del Rey, traveled to Peru and saw Machu Pichu, traveled to Hawaii, dressed up as Deckard and Rachael from “Blade Runner” for Halloween 2007, rode bikes on the bike path from Manhattan Beach to Malibu, dressed up as Sid and Nancy for Halloween 2008, attended an epic all night party at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood, dressed up Nadya Suleman (“Octomom”) and Kate Gosselin for Halloween 2009, and played lots of Rock Band on PS3 with friends.
Our Engagement
Here’s video of our exotic engagement.
Kidding. Again.
Chris caught the bouquet at Bobby and Renee's October 2008 wedding in Massachusetts, and it was an omen. Nine months later, on July 24, 2009, Chris took Jessica on a weekend trip to Big Sur, California (a place we had enjoyed on our road trips through California). After dinner at Post Ranch, Chris took Jessica back to La Ventana Inn where there was champagne and a fireplace. Chris took out a book of photos he had made for Jessica, and then he got down on one knee and proposed. She said yes.