It all began in July 2019, at an academic conference in Florence, Italy.

If you must know, it was the Association for Computational Linguistics Conference.

We ended up sitting next to each other at a social lunch event.

The funny part?
The bride doesn’t remember the groom at all…

That summer, Alicia happened to be interning in Sunnyvale, which gave Chien-Wei the perfect chance to ask her out again.

So, like everyone else in 2020, he had to wait.

— by the time Thanksgiving rolled around, it became the most special holiday for us.

From Florence to Forever, one Thansgiving at a time.

2019

We went on a UC Berkeley campus tour — just two friends with no plans, making the most of Thanksgiving.
2020

Stuck in the COVID black hole.
2021

We kicked off our committed relationship adventure on a trip in Colorado, the first of many journeys together.
2022

Alicia fully embraced PhD life and plenty of conference travel, while Chien-Wei proudly took on the role of airport chauffeur.
2023

We escaped on a no-internet hot spring getaway, trading Wi-Fi for starry skies and long conversations.
2024

Chien-Wei bent the knee, sold himself for lifelong custody, and Alicia happily sealed the deal.
2025

Leveling up to “you may kiss the bride” at San Francisco City Hall.