It's crazy to think that the couple didn't meet until 2018, because it feels like they've never lived without knowing each other.

In the fall of 2018, Natasha and William met at college orientation. While in line, William overheard Natasha’s conversation in which she mentioned that she was from South Africa. He struck up a conversation with her by asking “South Africa?”, and pretended he knew by her accent rather than eavesdropping.

Later that week, William went to a new student mixer hoping to run into Natasha again. Unfortunately, she was scarfing down Subway with a few new friends instead. Classes started the next week, and they both happened to be placed in the same cohort. William then fell head over heels in love with Natasha. Her… not quite.

The next week they were assigned to the same student film, and Natasha being Natasha lost her apartment keys on set. Seeing his chance, William took her out to eat to comfort her. They quickly became close friends and began spending nearly everyday together.

A few months passed, and Natasha moved out of her shoddy motel room. William helped by taking her to the magical land of Ikea. Halfway through building the bed, Natasha realized she purchased the wrong color and insisted they go back to Ikea to “get the correct white”. This night almost stopped their budding relationship in it’s tracks. William had no idea what he was in store for.

Around this time Natasha’s fabled emergency room visits commenced. William drove by her as she was attempting to walk to the hospital that was 5 miles away. He eventually became her ambulance/chauffer from then on.

On Monday nights they started a tradition of skipping their editing class, and instead opted for a cream soda and pizza movie night. Eventually upgrading to wine.

Christmas time came around and Natasha left for two weeks to South Africa. Being 10 thousand miles away, or 16 thousand kilometers depending on which one of them you ask, was harder than either of them expected. Both returned to LA after the holiday feeling there may be more to their relationship than just friendship.

Beginning of January 2019, the semester break began. William kidnapped Natasha and brought her to his home in San Diego to meet his parents. As they left, William’s parents called him back inside. Thinking his parents caught him stealing a few beers, William was prepared for the worst. Instead, his parents blindsided him with the smartest idea he had ever heard.

“You need to marry that girl” said William’s mom. To which he replied, “Trust me, I am trying.” In February, William took Natasha on her first ever Valentine’s date. They dined at the ever exclusive Cheesecake Factory. Ironically, no cheesecake was had that night.

April comes around and William once again kidnaps Natasha to his home. This time for Easter. After attending the strangest church ceremony, they decorated easter eggs and filled up on his mom’s cooking. Making the drive back to LA, they both realized they had managed to get food poisoning during the trip, Natasha lost a sock on the highway, and they spent the night bonding through the hell on all fronts.

May came around, and Natasha went home to South Africa for the semester break. This time saying goodbye was more emotional for both.

Shortly after Natasha came back, she was convinced she needed a pet (although anyone who knows her, knows she's never not needed one). William took her to the pet store and together they came across the sassiest hamster imaginable, Mabel. This little hamster would start joining them on their movie nights, perched in between William and Natasha.

After many months of practice, William offered to cook Natasha dinner. By the sheer grace of God, he cooked something not just edible, but actually decent. The plan both succeeded and backfired, as now he would have to replicate this miracle for Natasha many more times.

The first year of school came to an end, and they finally performed their first scene together. After this, new classes were assigned and Natasha and William were split up. However, this did not change their schedule of hanging out every night. If anything, they were just stubborn enough to hang out even more often.

That September, they went on their first official date to Balboa Park. William took Natasha to a garden titled “The Friendship Garden”. Nice going William.

William then asked Natasha to be his date to his sister’s wedding. While there, they both succumbed to wedding fever, but neither admitted to it.

Natasha then left for South Africa for two weeks. When she came back the pandemic began and William kidnapped her once again to San Diego. This time for many months. She lived in their garage apartment.

Later she went home to South Africa again, but her trip ended earlier than expected due to the increasing severity of the pandemic. She narrowly made it back to the United States, and was almost stranded abroad.

February of 2021, William took Natasha on another Valentines date. They enjoyed it so much they turned it into “Valentines Week”, and proceeded to have a date every night. Realizing that this was essentially just what dating was, they decided to put a label on what they were, and became boyfriend and girlfriend in March. They received the same response from all of their friends, “Well, finally”.

While studying remotely, they spent nearly every class in the same room. Regardless if they were in the same one or not. The end of college approached and both of them had severely procrastinated their Thesis Essay. They spent the whole night shot up on caffeine writing until the sun came up. Luckily, they both passed, graduated, and then slept for a week.

After school, they moved into their first apartment together in North Hollywood. They began working in LA, and William still chauffeured Natasha to and from her various jobs. They also celebrated their first Christmas together, and put up a tiny tree as a decoration.

Natasha messed up the chocolate mousse.

In March of 2022, William took Natasha back to the place of their first date and proposed with the Friendship Garden in full bloom. They went on to have an “engagement moon” because why not.
But this isn't where the engagement story ends.

Eventually, they moved to San Diego and became parents to a slightly psychotic dog, Bailey. She was the most perfect and most chaotic addition to their lives that they needed. Now out in San Diego, Natasha also developed a cookie addiction that William still has to provide for.

And FINALLY, in October of 2023, William got to meet Natasha’s parents in person. They toured all around San Diego and Los Angeles with no shortage of wine or desserts. Natasha’s parents also got a true Los Angeles goodbye, as they were sideswiped by a truck while William was driving them to the airport. During the trip, they also gifted William freedom from chauffeuring, and got Natasha her “Tashi-Mobile”.

Only now that William finally got the in-person approval from Natasha’s parents - even though they already approved long before she did - the wedding countdown can officially begin!