How it all began

Hilary’s Story

Hilary Ly was born in San Diego and spent her childhood between the sunny suburbs of Phoenix and San Diego. The beautiful San Diego beaches left a lasting impression on her (as evidenced by the wedding location!), but her curiosity for big city life soon led her to Los Angeles for college. There, she began her freshman year at Occidental College before transferring to UCLA—she appreciated the unique experiences each offered. In 2015, Hilary took another leap, trading the LA skyline for the even grander one of New York City.

Long’s Story

Long Chen was born in Harbin, China—often called the ice cream capital of the country—and proudly carries that spirit wherever he goes. His life has taken him through a variety of places: he spent his childhood in Japan, attended middle school in St. Louis, and finished high school in the suburbs of Atlanta. California beckoned next, where he embraced the Golden State for college (go Bears!) and stayed in San Francisco long enough to forge lifelong friendships. In 2018, he made the move to New York. Always the life of the party, Long had no trouble adjusting to city life.

Our Story

Our story began on Long’s first night in New York. Fresh from San Francisco, he arrived to collect keys from his new roommates—who were out with friends, including Hilary. Though it could have been a classic meet-cute, our first official date didn’t happen until a year later.

During a group ski trip to Vermont, Long, who had been (somewhat) quietly admiring Hilary, saw an opportunity to spend more time with her. We shared a drive and connected on the ski lifts, discussing everything from family and travel to shared interests. It was through these conversations that Hilary began to see the depth beyond Long’s playful exterior. Our first date took place on March 21, 2019.