It really was love at first sight. Emily was a bright-eyed 1L at the University of Texas School of Law, and the law school assigned each student an alumni mentor. Emily asked to be paired with a female transactional law partner that worked in LA. And she got assigned: Ari, a junior male attorney clerking in Austin for then-newly appointed Judge Don R. Willett—the very same judge who’s now officiating their wedding (and who swore them into the Texas bar).

From the first time the two got coffee together, Emily and Ari knew there was something special there. At the time, Ari told his best man that she might be the one. And Emily would drag her law school roommate, now bridesmaid, to school-organized mentor events as an excuse to hang out with him (thanks Ash!). To get his attention, Emily went even as far to submit Ari to win the Alumni Mentor of the Year Award just so she could see him again. He won (photo proof below). This plan quickly backfired because it required Emily to give a speech at a 500-person banquet held in Ari’s honor. When Ari finished his clerkship, he moved back to LA and the two remained friends.

But in 2020, the Universe again conspired to bring them together when Ari fled California back to Austin. He and Emily pretended they were “just friends” for a few months before Ari FINALLY put the moves on almost two years since they had met. Emily waited almost 4 more years for Ari to surprise her with a trip to Napa where he got down on one knee. Although Ari may have blacked out during it all, Emily has assured him that she did in fact say yes. They can’t wait to get married and share that day with you!