OUR STORY

What's a doctor like her doing with a guy like him? This is pretty much how it happened. Really.

ADAM & ANNIE'S PARTY

Arno is friends with Adam. Nadine is friends and former roomates with Annie. Adam and Annie decided to have a joint birthday party back in November 2008. Adam introduced Nadine to Arno. That's how things like this start.

Nadine remembers thinking, "He is handsome!" Then things got better. "He has a job, too!" Then he mentioned the stbx and his two kids. "Not me said the bee."

Arno remembers thinking Nadine was pretty hot. Plus she was so smart and engaging. There was this funny thing she did where she raised her eyebrows and opened her eyes wide every time she emphasized a point. He found it endearing.

Arno asked Nadine for her number. We're not quite sure why (it could have been low blood sugar or shock) but she gave it to him. The real one. Not the fake one for married guys with kids.

WHAT'S HIS NAME CALLS

The following week, Arno called Nadine. He asked if she wanted to get together for a drink. She remembered who he was but didn't catch his name. So she asked him to send her an email to confirm the date. But she really just wanted to figure out what his name was. Remember, she's pretty smart.

But here's what happens these days when you get someone's name. It's called google-stalking. She did it and she found out a bunch of things. Like that he's a CEO and someone once called him the sun king.

Based on all that she guessed he thought he was something. She wasn't going to give him an inch. For instance, she turned down his offer to pick her up. Because he was probably going to try to impress her with his 'fancy car' and all that stuff. Which is funny, because it turned out he drives a beat up Prius.

They met for drinks. He was five minutes late. Typical. But they had a really good conversation. He was a good listener and fascinated with her work and how she started a clinic. He said she was kind of a 'non-profit entrepreneur.' She thought he seemed down to earth, thoughtful, and nice. After a couple drinks, they hugged and said goodbye.

STAR WARS LIVE ON STAGE

Arno decided to ask Nadine out for a real date. So he wrote her an email suggesting they do one of three things: (1) go for a hike and see salmon spawning, (2) dinner and a movie, or (3) go down to a little theater in the mission that was putting on star wars live on stage. She chose (3). Which really impressed him.

The evening started with dinner at Bar Tartine. After that a very small, hot theater in a storefront in the mission. They weren't kidding. It was Star Wars word for word. Live on stage.

Here's the funny part. Nadine and Arno knew almost every word. That's because each of them had seen the movie probably 20 times. Arno also had the record.

Arno remembers wanting very badly to give Nadine a hug. But because it was a very small theater, he was sitting behind her and he couldn't.

Afterwards over post-show drinks at Lazslo, the first kiss. Arno just couldn't help himself. Nadine didn't mind. She even let Arno drive her home. Before getting out of the car they had another kiss or two. Not that anyone was counting.

A DASHING COUPLE

We honestly can't tell you the whole story here. It would take forever. But if there is anything else you want to know check with Nadine. She is the 'relationship historian' and has written down just about everything that has ever happened. Good and bad. In detail.

There were more dates. Lots more talking. They fell in love. There was travel: Palm Springs, Paris, New York, Clear Lake. There was all the family stuff. Nadine met Arno's boys. Parents and siblings were introduced.

Nadine and Arno both love being out together. The four Fs figure prominently: food, friends, fun, and family. Nadine likes having Arno as 'arm candy' at all her fundraising and society events. There are even some pictures that made it onto the red carpet pages of a few magazines. Even the cover of the local paper.

AN URBAN HIKE

Don't be fooled by the title. This is the part about how Arno proposed to Nadine. It was Saturday 26 June 2010.

Nadine and Arno had just spent the week with friends and kids in Tahoe. It's an annual thing. Arno's boys were now with their mom, so Nadine had Arno to herself for the entire weekend.

Nadine loves to walk and loves to shop. Her big wish for the weekend was to do an urban hike. Her plan was to walk from her house in Portrero Hill thru Hayes Valley to the Fillmore. Arno had another secret plan.

After a day of meandering across town (click here for a map), Nadine suggested a drink. Arno rarely finds reason to disagree on that topic. The Elite Cafe was right across the street.

Arno was looking for just the right moment. It had been such a nice day. They were feeling close. Arno told Nadine he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. Nadine didn't want to jump to any conclusions. So she kept her mouth shut. Arno said, do you need me to get on one knee? Then Arno said, Nadine would you marry me?

Nadine said a whole lot of stuff. Mostly things like you're kidding. No way, really? This isn't happening. Oh my god. Really? But there was one thing she didn't say. Arno asked if she was going to give him an answer. She screamed YES and jumped up and down.

The rest of the weekend was pretty nice. There were relatives to call and good news to spread. Nadine and Arno were pretty excited.

WE'RE ENGAGED, MON

There was a lot of talk about an engagement party. Big or small? At a bar or restaurant? If you don't know already, Nadine is Jamaican. So the decision was to have a combined engagement and Jamaican independence day party.

Everyone and anyone was invited. Drinks flowed and reggae dancehall boomed. Friends and family toasted a very happy couple. Nadine wore a stunning pink dress. At one point it seemed like there were 200 people stuffed into Nadine's house. It was a very good party.

A WEDDING TO PLAN

Getting engaged means now there's a wedding to plan. It's going to be a lot of fun and the stuff Arno and Nadine like best. Food, friends, family, a weekend of fun in Guernville on the Russian River. July 8 - 10. Save the whole damn weekend because you're not going to want to miss it!