Bryan’s Telling

Breanne and I had our first interaction on Hinge the dating app. I was visiting my sister Rachel and her wife Yuvi for Thanksgiving in Bremerton, WA where they were stationed in the military.

Breanne had asked me out to have a little coffee date at Cafe Corvo and so we met each other on Thanksgiving day, November 24, 2022. During our date, we shared a deep conversation about our faith as Christians and explored our lives as Christians. We also talked about the beauties of Washington and California. I didn’t know if I liked Breanne at the time yet and I knew that I only had a couple of days left in Washington before I had to head back home. Breanne asked me out again to do one more date but this time it would take place in Tacoma where she lives and we spent a night doing axe throwing, getting dinner, and getting ice cream in 40-degree weather. After those two dates, Breanne and I kept in contact and continually called and texted each other.

It wasn’t until January 2023 that I started developing feelings for Breanne. Preparing gifts for her coming birthday, sending her handwritten letters, and asking about her days was making me so happy. On April 4th, 2023 Breanne visited me in San Diego with her sister and I officially asked her to be my girlfriend. Although we started our relationship long distance we made the effort to hear and see each other by either texting, calling, or by Facetime. Breanne would also go out of her way to fly down to San Diego sometimes in the spring and summertime. I was super joyous that my girlfriend would go out of her way to visit me. I visited Breanne during the summer of 2023 to meet her parents and her friends as well as enjoy the beautiful weather.

In October of 2023 I decided to move to Washington to pursue a career in Cybersecurity (still pursuing btw) and be closer to Breanne so that we can be close to each other in our relationship. During our time together, we were able to experience different emotions and truly understand our feelings for one another.

I proposed to Breanne on March 3, 2024 after going to our Young Adults church gathering. I knew that this was the woman God had placed in my life and I would be a fool to spend another minute without her as my wife.

On April 4, 2024 Breanne and I spontaneously held a small ceremony with our close local friends and family on the Seattle-Bremerton Ferry. We also wanted to have both my community from San Diego and Breanne’s community to be present and celebrate this union so we are planning to have a bigger celebration this coming August 24, 2024.

Breanne’s Side

On one gloomy, gray, fall turning to winter day in Washington, I was driving home from my job as a middle school teacher when all of a sudden, I was hit with the feeling of wanting to be in a relationship. Now, as an independent woman who “didn’t need no man” but wanted a family and babies, I decided to follow the feeling and download Hinge (a dating app) with the challenge that I could not delete it until I went on one date.

A week went by and I had a few conversations that led to ghosting and no follow-throughs. The next week was a short week and by Wednesday, I was at my Lola’s house with my sister, giggling on the couch as I messaged a guy named Bryan about our Filipino connection (I am a fourth) and about how he didn’t actually live in Bremerton like I thought he did. He was messaging back quickly and by 9 pm I thought what the heck do I have to lose and I asked if he wanted to go to coffee.

During our date at Cafe Corvo and going to walk around the Bremerton Marina to continue the conversation, I felt at ease, like I was talking to a friend, and I knew Bryan was someone special. He dropped me off and asked for my number and we both enjoyed our Thanksgiving.

By Saturday, I was still thinking about this Bryan guy and the potential of what could be with the skepticism of feeling like I couldn’t get to know someone fully over technology alone. So… I asked him if he wanted to go out again before he left and in seconds he responded back “I would love to.”

After he went back to San Diego, we kept in touch by texting, calling, and the occasional FaceTime “dates”. He sent me the most thoughtful birthday package and asked me to be his Valentine via a sweet card! In the meantime, my sister was having her 30th birthday and asked if I wanted to take a trip to San Diego with her to celebrate! I was overjoyed! Of course I would go with her, not only because I love her but bonus! I would get to see my crush! Right before the trip, Bryan road-tripped to Washington with his mom and surprised me with the most special date: church, University of Washington cherry blossom festival, a candle-making workshop, pho, and ice cream while watching the sunset at Point Ruston. He told me mahal kita (I love you) while we were watching the pink clouds drift above us.

Luckily, only 2 weeks later I travelled to San Diego. I remember how sweet Bryan was – bringing Christiana and I flowers, opening doors, being the best tour guide, planning fun places to see and food to eat – and again, how comfortable it was to be with him. When he asked me to be his girlfriend, I said yes with the biggest smile on my face. Later in the trip, we were stargazing at the beach and I felt like my heart was growing to fit another person.

During our long-distance dating period, we would talk about everything, all the time. I loved growing in deep communication with Bryan. When we would get to visit in person, it was fun to adventure together and we would maximize our time by trying all the good food spots and eating lots of ice cream!

Once Bryan moved to Washington in October, I was excited to get to do the mundane, everyday things together and see if we were compatible with each other in real life lol. Even though we lived 45 minutes away, we made it a point to see each other a couple times a week (we were obsessed with each other). We had lots of good, raw, healthy conversations and made it a priority to continue to see God in our lives and as the foundation of our relationship.

I already knew Bryan was the one for me and was left in a I know we are going to get married but when? situation. Then, in the beginning of March, he asked me to marry him! We decided spring break in my teaching schedule was better than summer (I was starting to get sad every time we would say goodbye! I missed my love when he was not by my side!).

Marriage has been the biggest blessing and I cannot express how grateful I am to be married to a man as God-abiding, generous, caring, protective, loving, and intentional as my sweet husband Bryan.

We cannot wait to have you all join us to celebrate our love!