๐ Married Sep 9, 2006 • San Francisco
Welcome to Our Story
The official archive of Julie and Tom! From our first chance meeting in February 1999 at UC Berkeley, through six years of collegiate courtship, road trips, and video games, to our wedding in SF and beyond.
1999
21 memories
February 19
milestone
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Julie and Tom meet at CSA Chinese New Year Banquet
๐ธ Click to view
June 26
fun
Tom's 1977 Corvette breaks down (part 1)
August 31
milestone
Tom writes his first poem for Julie, titled, appropriately, 'A Poem for Julie'
September 1
milestone
โญ
THE DAY EVERYTHING CHANGED. Tom calls Julie. Julie makes Tom admit he likes her. Julie admits she likes Tom. The journey begins.
September 4
dating
Julie's first love letter to Tom
September 5
dating
First kiss
September 9
dating
First official date at some random Chinese restaurant on Clement Street in San Francisco
September 15
dating
Tom gives Julie flowers for the first time
September 25
dating
Second official date at Yoshi's in Jack London Square
September 26
family
Tom meets Julie's family at the Chang Dai-chien exhibit at SFSU.
October 1
dating
First 'month-a-versary' celebrated by watching 'Drive Me Crazy' and 'parking' at Lawrence Hall of Science.
October 10
fun
Tom's 1977 Corvette breaks down (part 2)
October 15
career
Julie meets Tom's karate family
November 1
dating
Second 'month-a-versary' celebrated by buying a cake at Safeway
December 1
dating
Third 'month-a-versary' celebrated by watching Toy Story 2
December 3
career
Tom becomes black belt candidate, cheered on by Julie
December 11
milestone
Julie teaches Tom to ice-skate at Yerba Buena Gardens Ice Rink.
December 15
fun
Tom's 1977 Corvette breaks down (part 3)
December 19
travel
Julie and Tom meet in Disneyland. Julie meets Tom's family for first time at Brittany's Nutcracker performance in Orange County.
December 20
milestone
Tom brings Julie to Claim Jumper for first time, and on a 'tour' of Orange County, including South Coast Plaza
December 24
milestone
First Christmas
2000
9 memories
January 16-17
travel
First mini-holiday to Napa
February 14
dating
First Valentine's Day celebrated at O Chame
March 1
career
Sixth 'month-a-versary' celebrated at Kirala
April 13
fun
Tom buys Julie a hamster for her birthday. It was named Melvin, but renamed Mellie when it was determined that it was female.
May 21
career
Tom graduates from UC Berkeley
September 1
dating
First anniversary celebrated at Chez Panisse
September 4
travel
Mini-holiday to Monterey
December โ January
travel
Tom joins Julie's family trip in Taiwan
December 2
dating
Fifteenth 'month-a-versary' celebrated at Masa's
2001
9 memories
February 14
dating
Second Valentine's Day celebrated at Skate's on the Bay
April 8
dating
Nineteenth 'month-a-versary' at La Note
April 15
milestone
Birthday dinner at HS Lordships and surprise party for Julie
May 13
career
Julie graduates from UC Berkeley
July 1
career
Twenty-second 'month-a-versary' at Kirala
August 3
dating
Twenty-third 'month-a-versary' at Rivoli
September 1
dating
Second anniversary celebrated at Gary Danko
November 8
milestone
Julie and Tom watch Teatro Zinzanni with Kahn and Mai
December 1
dating
Twenty-seventh 'month-a-versary' at Saul's Restaurant & Deli
2002
6 memories
February 1
dating
Twenty-ninth 'month-a-versary' at Santa Fe Bistro
February 14
dating
Third Valentine's Day celebrated at Sergio's Trattoria
March 9-10
travel
First snowboarding trip together
August 17-25
travel
Trip to New York
September 1
dating
Third anniversary celebrated at Boulevard
December
milestone
Julie and Tom watch 'The Nutcracker' performed by the SF Ballet
2003
10 memories
February 14
dating
Fourth Valentine's Day celebrated at Le Colonial
April 17
milestone
Julie's birthday at Ana Mandara
May 2
dating
'Month-a-versary' at Macaroni Grill
July 6
dating
'Month-a-versary' at Millan Ristorante
August 1
dating
'Month-a-versary' at Filippo's Pastaria
August 31 โ September 7
milestone
Tom visits Julie in London
September 3
dating
Fourth anniversary celebrated at Marco Pierre White at The Criterion London
September 8
milestone
Julie and Tom go to Paris
December 11-15
milestone
Tom visits Julie in London for the second time
December 12-13
milestone
Julie and Tom visit Prague
2004
8 memories
February 14
dating
Fifth Valentine's Day celebrated at Chaya Brasserie
March 21-27
travel
Julie and Tom visit Wendy and Shin in Japan
April 17
wedding
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Trip to Orange County for Sunny and Lien's wedding
April 24
milestone
Tom hosts Julie's birthday celebration at Bambuddha Lounge and Shanghai 1930
June 4
milestone
Julie and Tom go to Jamie Cullum concert at Bimbos 365
September 2
dating
Fifth anniversary celebrated at Fleur de Lys
November 6-7
travel
Second mini-holiday to Napa
December 19
milestone
Tom's birthday at Ruths Chris Steakhouse
2005
8 memories
January 15
fun
First Warriors game together, for Tom's birthday
February 14
dating
Sixth Valentine's Day celebrated at Bizou (now CoCo 500)
April 16
family
Julie's birthday with Tom and family at Thanh Long. Dinner at Fifth Floor.
May 28
wedding
โญ
Julie graduates with her MBA from SFSU. Her brother Paul secretly brings a suspicious Julie up to Twin Peaks, where Tom laid out rose petals on the ground. Tom gets down on one knee and proposes! Both families arrive to celebrate and take photos before a celebratory Chinese banquet.
May 30
dating
Engagement announcement dinner at Rivoli (thank you to all who came!)
July 31
wedding
โญ
Lingo and Gordon's wedding at the Berkeley Rose Garden
August 11-16
wedding
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Trip to New York for Paul and Josei's wedding
September 2
dating
Sixth anniversary celebrated at Myth
2006
14 memories
February 4
milestone
Engagement party
February 18
dating
Seventh Valentine's Day celebrated at Frisson
April 1
wedding
โญ
Sarah and Brian's wedding at First Presbyterian of Berkeley
April 22
wedding
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Tiffanie and Jason's wedding at Stanford Memorial Church
April 29
milestone
Julie's birthday dinner at Blowfish Sushi to Die For. Drinks later at Sugar Lounge. Gay clubbing later at <undisclosed location>.
June 13
wedding
โญ
Letterpressed wedding invitations at San Francisco Center for the Book.
June 17
wedding
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Wedding invitations assembly party and dinner at Eccolo afterwards.
July 22
career
Engagements pictures taken at University of California, Berkeley.
September 2
wedding
Preparation of wedding programs and favors with family and friends at 295 Lenox Ave., #401 in Oakland, CA. One week before the wedding!
September 9
wedding
โญ
Julie & Tom are married! Beautiful open-air ceremony at Shakespeare Garden in Golden Gate Park, followed by a joyous celebration at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel on Union Square.
๐ธ Click to view
November 4
career
โญ
Launch party and jewelry showcase for Julie's jewelry company (Porsche and Rocket) at 663 South Mayfair Ave, Daly City, CA.
November 10
family
Family gathering and special celebration event for Dad at SFSU Seven Hills, San Francisco, CA.
November 11 โ 14
travel
Southern California trip flying via JetBlue (Oakland to Long Beach) to visit the Bui family in Fountain Valley.
November 25 โ 26
family
Thanksgiving weekend trip flying via JetBlue (Oakland to Long Beach) for family holiday festivities in Orange County.
2007
1 memories
July 20 โ 28
travel
Summer getaway enjoying beaches, island drives, and tropical sunsets in Hawaii.
2008
2 memories
January 3
fun
Couples photoshoot session along California lakefront and coastal shores.
August 15 โ 22
travel
Summer Caribbean getaway in Cancun exploring the coast and beaches.
2009
1 memories
June 12 โ 24
travel
Trip exploring ancient history in Athens and cliffside sunsets across the Greek islands.
2010
2 memories
March 26 โ April 3
career
Annual team retreat and family vacation in Hawaii with the Valve crew.
July 1
milestone
โญ
Moved from the Bay Area to Seattle for Tom's role at Valve, settling into Chloe Apartments on Capitol Hill.
2016
1 memories
September 9
milestone
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Celebrating a decade of marriage! Reunited with many friends from our original wedding party in the private dining room at Thomas Keller's The French Laundry in Yountville, Napa Valley.
2017
1 memories
June 22 โ July 20
travel
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First month-long family residency abroad. Rented a London townhouse; explored museums, parks, and landmarks.
2018
1 memories
June 15
milestone
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Purchased our family home at 9536 NE 1st St in Bellevue, WA, establishing roots in the Eastside.
2019
2 memories
June 17 โ July 17
travel
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A month living at Charlottehaven in Copenhagen. Explored canals, city parks, bakeries, and Billund (Legoland).
October 10 โ 14
fun
Halloween-season family trip to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure.
2020
1 memories
July
travel
Summer getaway exploring forested trails, river views, and outdoor downtime at Skamania Lodge.
2021
1 memories
October 8 โ 11
travel
Autumn island getaway on wooded acreage on Lopez Island, exploring beaches and trails.
2022
3 memories
February 20 โ 26
travel
Mid-winter getaway to Carmel Valley Ranch enjoying valley views and coastal drives.
April 9 โ 18
travel
Spring break trip to Grand Hyatt Kauai in Koloa, drifting river pools and south shore hikes.
July
travel
Mountain trip in Big Sky hiking scenic trails, wildlife viewing, and mountain vistas.
2023
1 memories
June 23 โ July 25
travel
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Month-long residency at The Onsider in Barcelona. Sagrada Famรญlia, Park Gรผell, tuk-tuk tours, and San Sebastiรกn.
2024
1 memories
December 21 โ 28
travel
โญ
Christmas week in Japan. Flew ANA to Haneda, stayed in Yokohama, explored Tokyo, illuminations, and art exhibits.
2025
2 memories
June 7
fun
Saw Coldplay live on the Music of the Spheres World Tour at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
October 5
fun
Live concert night out in Seattle to see Benson Boone perform.
2026
5 memories
June 25 โ July 8
travel
โญ
Summer family trip across France and England with Parisian dining, museums, and countryside tours.
July 5
fun
Race day trackside from the Paddock Club at Silverstone Circuit.
July 24
family
Family getaway to Las Vegas featuring live music at the Sphere with Julie, Lisa, and the Cheng family.
September 9
milestone
โญ
Celebrating 20 years of marriage! We rented out the entire The French Laundry restaurant in Yountville for friends, family, and our original wedding party to celebrate two decades of love and milestones together.
๐ธ Click to view
November 21 โ 29
travel
Thanksgiving week in Belize exploring coastal waters, island beaches, and Mayan ruins.