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HOW STEVE DESCRIBES VERNA
creative
warm
encouraging
HOW VERNA DESCRIBES STEVE
inventive
authentic
curious
what she said...
what he said...
we met on hinge, a dating app, and our conversation kicked off with a game of two truths and a lie
I did stand up comedy for two years.
​
I swallowed a live goldfish to win a bet.
​
I've been bitten by a shark.
WHICH IS THE LIE?
I've never done standup comedy!
I've flown a plane.
​
I went on a month and a half long road trip.
​
I once got a high five from Kelly Clarkson.
WHICH IS THE LIE?
Kelly and I have never met lol.
GREW UP...
In Almaden, the valley north east from Santa Cruz
OCCUPATION​
Graphic Designer & Strategist
WORST HAIRCUT
Cut my bangs down to stubs when I was 7 because "my hair was hot"
FAV VEHICLE OWNED
Vespa Primavera in my 30s
FAV CLASSIC BAND
Queen
BEST VIDEO GAME
MarioKart on Nintendo Switch
DORITO FLAVOR
Classic. No, Cool Ranch. No, Chili Cheese Fritos.
verna
steve
you too? me too!
ketchup is the worst
anything can be fixed with chicken nuggets
riding motorcycles
playing instruments
legos
dad jokes and puns
space and sci-fi shows
happy place is a ski/snowboard day
love surprises
curious about everything
love languages are quality time and physical touch
creative and love to make things
cry about the same moments in movies and shows
GREW UP...
In Cobb, the mountains just north of Napa
OCCUPATION​
Animator & Maker
WORST HAIRCUT
A black spiky mohawk when I was 22
FAV VEHICLE OWNED
Dodge Stealth in my 20s
FAV CLASSIC BAND
Beach Boys
BEST VIDEO GAME
Red Alert:
Command & Conquer
DORITO FLAVOR
Spicy Nacho
when you're both creative,
you tend to have a lot of hobbies...
DESIGN
ART
ILLUSTRATION
ANIMATION
ARDUINO ENGINEERING
READING
LEARNING
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
COMPOSING
SINGING
TRAVELING
PHOTOGRAPHY
MODEL AIRPLANES
DRONE FLYING
ENTERTAINING
COOKING
BOOKMAKING
BLOCKPRINTING
SCREENPRINTING
BEER BREWING
GARDENING
CANNING
JEWELRY MAKING
WELDING
PAPER SCULPTURE
MOUNTAIN BIKING
SNOW SPORTS
CAMPING...
IN A NUTSHELL, OUR RELATIONSHIP IS...
playful
comforting
adventurous
some favorite memories and moments
spontaneous
surprises
When our date one weekend was recording a song together. We got caught up in it all day for hours, and only left for a sushi break.
The time Verna surprised me for my birthday with a skydiving trip and special guests - two of my sisters flew in for the weekend!
best text
thread
The time that we decided that every text that day could only be made out of lines, memes, and gifs from The Office.
Definitely The Office thread. We even coordinated our weekend plans using Office gifs.
sweet &
sentimental
Each year, when we surprise each other with homemade Christmas ornaments that represent a favorite memory from the year together.
The time Verna went away for two weeks and left me a stack of envelopes, one to open each day she was gone. There were letters, jokes, stories, and games!
some of the songs we've recorded together
Forever Young feat. The FreshmanAlphaville & The Verve Pipe
00:00 / 04:11
The first one we recorded together, about a month into dating!
Power of Love (Cover)Huey Lewis & The News
00:00 / 03:44
Our submission for a Classic Rock theme song club
White ChristmasBing Crosby
00:00 / 02:34
A Christmas song we sang for our families and friends in Dec 2018
the proposal
Lake Tahoe / July 2, 2020
We went camping for 4 days in Lake Tahoe to celebrate our 3 year anniversary and take a much needed break from quarantine. Steve, a drone enthusiast, really wanted to get some footage of the lake from Fanette Island in Emerald Bay. Early on our last morning in Tahoe, we set out at 6:30am to see if we could get the best shots before any crowds arrived...
the view of fanette island from the ridge
Setting out early for the short hike down to the shoreline
the hike down
One of us is completely unaware
something wonderful...
...In the midst of an intense 2020. Enjoying the morning before heading back to the Bay, and calling all of our family and friends!
the view of fanette island from the ridge
Setting out early for the short hike down to the shoreline
our families
the swehla's
FUN FACTS
There are 11 kids! Steve is the 3rd oldest.
Finnish, French, Austrian, Czech
Nearly all minus one are musically talented
Parents: Craig and Julie
Siblings: Peter, Annie, Lizzy, Bridget, Johnny, Mary, Clare, Chrissy, Joe, and Angie
the bhargava's
FUN FACTS
There are 2 kids! Verna is the oldest.
Indian
Nearly all minus one make dad jokes
Parents: Satiesh and Rupa
Siblings: Krisna
our wedding party
the women of honor
brenna robertson
WE FIRST MET
When we were working as lowly customer service peons after college, circa 2005. We bonded at a mutual friends party, where we got caught jumping on a stack of abandoned mattresses.
IF SHE WAS A CHARACTER ON FRIENDS
Monica
She's very organized / a planner, always there to support and root for you, and she gets really into games!
florence
ip
WE FIRST MET
We were paired together as freshman year roommates at UCLA, circa 2001. We bonded over our terrible 3rd roommate and our love for pizza rolls and playing The Sims.
IF SHE WAS A CHARACTER ON FRIENDS
Rachel
She's a loyal friend, sentimental and a crier, and really hardworking at whatever she puts her mind to.
miwa
prakash
WE FIRST MET
At an orientation session for our graduate design program, in 2010. We both quietly thought the other person was too cool for us. We later bonded over just how nerdy we actually are.
IF SHE WAS A CHARACTER ON FRIENDS
Ross
She's passionate about her interests, detail oriented and methodical, and is very loving and affectionate.
sadia
harper
WE FIRST MET
In graduate school, circa 2010. We bonded (and later lamented) over being a couple of the only dual degree students, then over how much of life and love we had in common.
IF SHE WAS A CHARACTER ON FRIENDS
Chandler
She can make anyone laugh and feel welcome, is deeply compassionate, and is always up for fun.
valerie
tower
WE FIRST MET
In graduate school, circa 2010. My first friend in our program, and we sat next to each other in our pod. Within a couple months, we cohosted our first party together, and soon after, we became roommates!
IF SHE WAS A CHARACTER ON FRIENDS
Phoebe
She's an imaginative and whimsical creator, entrepreneurial and confident, and up for any adventure or caper.
the best men
joseph
swehla
WHO HE IS TO ME
My youngest brother and the one I love to talk science and tech with.
IF HE WAS IN A HEIST MOVIE
The Cat Burgler
johnny
swehla
WHO HE IS TO ME
My middle brother that I love to collaborate with musically. He always has an ear to listen and just talk about life with.
IF HE WAS IN A HEIST MOVIE
The Pickpocket
krisna
bhargava
WHO HE IS TO ME
My new brother in-law who I have a lot of respect for and always inspires and encourages me to explore my inventive side.
IF HE WAS IN A HEIST MOVIE
The Hacker
matthew
geesey
WHO HE IS TO ME
My go-to buddy for beer-making, video gaming and just hanging out with on a Sunday afternoon.
IF HE WAS IN A HEIST MOVIE
The Planner
peter
swehla
WHO HE IS TO ME
My oldest brother and one of my favorite artistic people to collaborate with. The one I most often have my philosophical conversations with.
IF HE WAS IN A HEIST MOVIE
The Charmer
we can't want to celebrate with you!
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