*Scroll to the bottom to watch us tell our story live.
How We Met
Friday, August 2nd, 2019
Was it love at first sight?
Timestamp: [0:05]
Bernd:
"For me, it was."Bria:
"For me, I don't know, I was not paying attention to people around me. Or the guys in particular. So.... Bernd:
"It's okay."Bria:
"He was cute!"Bernd:
"Was?"Bria:
"Yes...."
"For me, it was."Bria:
"For me, I don't know, I was not paying attention to people around me. Or the guys in particular. So.... Bernd:
"It's okay."Bria:
"He was cute!"Bernd:
"Was?"Bria:
"Yes...."
What were the circumstances around how you two first met?
Timestamp: [0:35]
Bria:
"My friend Raema was at the international and I had asked her was she going out to eat or did she want to meet up after. She was like, 'yeah, I'm meeting up with a group. Y'all can come with' (y'all as in me and Megan). So we met up with her and then we walked to the group and when we got to the group, a charming young fellow was there."Bernd:
"Thank you."Bria:
"Yeah, and that's how we met."Bernd:
"Yep, sure. That's how it was."
"My friend Raema was at the international and I had asked her was she going out to eat or did she want to meet up after. She was like, 'yeah, I'm meeting up with a group. Y'all can come with' (y'all as in me and Megan). So we met up with her and then we walked to the group and when we got to the group, a charming young fellow was there."Bernd:
"Thank you."Bria:
"Yeah, and that's how we met."Bernd:
"Yep, sure. That's how it was."
Bernd, what attracted you to Bria?
Timestamp: [1:19]
Bernd:
"That she was a very calm, but also very cheerful, happy, very spiritual person. And she was also like, I would say, what you'd call laid back. She just had a very relaxed vibe around her. And that's what I really liked about her. Just like, a ton of other things."
"That she was a very calm, but also very cheerful, happy, very spiritual person. And she was also like, I would say, what you'd call laid back. She just had a very relaxed vibe around her. And that's what I really liked about her. Just like, a ton of other things."
Saturday, August 3rd, 2019
Is that why you made sure to eat together again on the 2nd day of the convention?
Timestamp: [1:50]
Bernd:
"Mhm, yeah. I was like, I cannot let her go. She should stay close."
"Mhm, yeah. I was like, I cannot let her go. She should stay close."
Bria, what was your first impression of Bernd?
Timestamp: [2:02]
Bria:
"I was like 'wow, this guy is really tall. Oo, I like his blue suit. Oo, he's talkative, he talks a lot'. But in a good way."Bernd:
"I see what you mean."Bria:
"No, no, he was really chatty and I liked that. Because I felt just a bit in my shell so he was engaging with the questions and stuff that he asked. So, he's very welcoming. I like that."Bernd:
"Thank you."Bria:
"You're welcome."
"I was like 'wow, this guy is really tall. Oo, I like his blue suit. Oo, he's talkative, he talks a lot'. But in a good way."Bernd:
"I see what you mean."Bria:
"No, no, he was really chatty and I liked that. Because I felt just a bit in my shell so he was engaging with the questions and stuff that he asked. So, he's very welcoming. I like that."Bernd:
"Thank you."Bria:
"You're welcome."
Thursday, November 14th, 2019
When did you know that he was interested in being more than just friends?
Timestamp: [2:43]
Bria:
"Initially, I had a hint at the end of the month, we came back to the Netherlands after our month long trip in Europe. And he had called me while we were with Raema again. And she was looking at me like ( ͡👁 ⏥ ͡👁)..... so I'm like 'what is wrong with her?' So I get off the phone and she was like, 'did he call you?!' And I was like 'yesss..??' And she was like 'remember, I told you- guys here are not going to call if they're not interested'. I was like 'Oh! Okay... hmm...'. So I kind of kept it in the back of my mind, but later on in the year, he started calling pretty consistently. Then he asked me about-"Bernd:
"Like too much."Bria:
"Noo, not too much-"Bernd:
"Every night. Stalking you-"Bria:
(laughs) "No it wasn't stalking me because I liked it. Yeah, he started calling a lot. Not in a creepy way. And he started asking me about would I move to Europe and then things like that, like my future plans. So I was like.... 'hm okayy, yeah, I think he likes me'. Yep."Bernd:
"I did. And I still do."
"Initially, I had a hint at the end of the month, we came back to the Netherlands after our month long trip in Europe. And he had called me while we were with Raema again. And she was looking at me like ( ͡👁 ⏥ ͡👁)..... so I'm like 'what is wrong with her?' So I get off the phone and she was like, 'did he call you?!' And I was like 'yesss..??' And she was like 'remember, I told you- guys here are not going to call if they're not interested'. I was like 'Oh! Okay... hmm...'. So I kind of kept it in the back of my mind, but later on in the year, he started calling pretty consistently. Then he asked me about-"Bernd:
"Like too much."Bria:
"Noo, not too much-"Bernd:
"Every night. Stalking you-"Bria:
(laughs) "No it wasn't stalking me because I liked it. Yeah, he started calling a lot. Not in a creepy way. And he started asking me about would I move to Europe and then things like that, like my future plans. So I was like.... 'hm okayy, yeah, I think he likes me'. Yep."Bernd:
"I did. And I still do."
Friday, February 14th, 2020
Bernd, when did you realize your interest was returned?
Timestamp: [4:09]
Bernd:
"Because one night I was up very late and I called her cause at that time, it was like afternoon there [in the US] and she was preparing for a kind of special occasion. She was dressing up and everything. I was like, she is busy... doing her hair, clothes, everything. She kept on the phone and I let you [Bria] know... 'hey, I better hang up because you are so busy' and you said 'no, no, it's okay' and I was like... good. Good. So yeah, actually, that's it. I was like, let's see what's in it, more.
I just want to mention that on the 14th of February, coincidentally though, we had a-"Bria:
"Not on purpose."Bernd:
"Not on purpose. I was on the holiday and I had like, a lot of time, and I was like, I'm going to, just tell what I'm doing and send you my holiday pictures. That was like, the moment when I was like, I'm going to ask you, 'do you want to live in Europe' because I'm very interested in you, but if you're not willing to live in Europe, I just need to know this. Because it's going to be hard for me to get to your place. And just know that it's hard so it's a very practical question. And when she directly said 'I would love to live in Europe'. You [Bria] said it was a dream. And then we started officially. We just spoke out, the both of us, that this is not friendship anymore. And that day we decided this is our start."
"Because one night I was up very late and I called her cause at that time, it was like afternoon there [in the US] and she was preparing for a kind of special occasion. She was dressing up and everything. I was like, she is busy... doing her hair, clothes, everything. She kept on the phone and I let you [Bria] know... 'hey, I better hang up because you are so busy' and you said 'no, no, it's okay' and I was like... good. Good. So yeah, actually, that's it. I was like, let's see what's in it, more.
I just want to mention that on the 14th of February, coincidentally though, we had a-"Bria:
"Not on purpose."Bernd:
"Not on purpose. I was on the holiday and I had like, a lot of time, and I was like, I'm going to, just tell what I'm doing and send you my holiday pictures. That was like, the moment when I was like, I'm going to ask you, 'do you want to live in Europe' because I'm very interested in you, but if you're not willing to live in Europe, I just need to know this. Because it's going to be hard for me to get to your place. And just know that it's hard so it's a very practical question. And when she directly said 'I would love to live in Europe'. You [Bria] said it was a dream. And then we started officially. We just spoke out, the both of us, that this is not friendship anymore. And that day we decided this is our start."
Our First Date
Thursday, February 27th, 2020
When was your first date and what happened?
Timestamp: [5:57]
Bria:
"First official date or.... like over zoom or do you want to do in-person?"Bernd:
"In zoom, we sat up a zoom meeting with candle lights and everything so somewhere in February. Hold on... February yes, end of February with you Megan, that was our first date though. Of course."Bria:
"We had a great chaperone. So the first date would be February, the end of February, right before our assembly. We went to New York and we went to the Starbucks, the wax museum, and then we walked around..."Bernd:
"Did karaoke."Bria:
"Yeah! I forgot about karaoke. Yeah, we did karaoke-"Bernd:
"In ice cold New York. During the blizzard. And that was our very first date, to see if like, this is really real. Yeah, that was a very interesting day. I stepped out right off the plane at JFK and went to my date. We spent a lot of time together."Bria:
"He was a cutie."Bernd:
"I felt a bit jet-lagged. I had a 36 hour day, that day. An extended day. But it was a very interesting day. Yeah, it was really... was the start."Bria:
"Yeah."Bernd:
"We hate meeting virtual, we really had to look each other in the eye, like are we really going to do this? Because also corona started just a few days later."
"First official date or.... like over zoom or do you want to do in-person?"Bernd:
"In zoom, we sat up a zoom meeting with candle lights and everything so somewhere in February. Hold on... February yes, end of February with you Megan, that was our first date though. Of course."Bria:
"We had a great chaperone. So the first date would be February, the end of February, right before our assembly. We went to New York and we went to the Starbucks, the wax museum, and then we walked around..."Bernd:
"Did karaoke."Bria:
"Yeah! I forgot about karaoke. Yeah, we did karaoke-"Bernd:
"In ice cold New York. During the blizzard. And that was our very first date, to see if like, this is really real. Yeah, that was a very interesting day. I stepped out right off the plane at JFK and went to my date. We spent a lot of time together."Bria:
"He was a cutie."Bernd:
"I felt a bit jet-lagged. I had a 36 hour day, that day. An extended day. But it was a very interesting day. Yeah, it was really... was the start."Bria:
"Yeah."Bernd:
"We hate meeting virtual, we really had to look each other in the eye, like are we really going to do this? Because also corona started just a few days later."
And there's a story behind an umbrella gift, right?
Timestamp: [7:39]
Bernd:
"I gave you a Dutch umbrella..."Bria:
"Yes!"Bernd:
"In a tulip shape.. is there a story?"Bria:
"I was super happy that I got it because I had bought one here in 2016 and it broke. So, who happens to show up with the umbrella as a gift? Almost the exact same one, just a different color. I was over the moon. Super happy! That I got it~ Still have it, still have it. Cherish it."Bernd:
"Thank you, Alibaba."
"I gave you a Dutch umbrella..."Bria:
"Yes!"Bernd:
"In a tulip shape.. is there a story?"Bria:
"I was super happy that I got it because I had bought one here in 2016 and it broke. So, who happens to show up with the umbrella as a gift? Almost the exact same one, just a different color. I was over the moon. Super happy! That I got it~ Still have it, still have it. Cherish it."Bernd:
"Thank you, Alibaba."
Bernd, when did you know Bria was the one [that you wanted to marry]?
Timestamp: [8:28]
Bernd:
"Well, we've been meeting each other since the convention in August, 2019 until now. That's like, two years so we really got to know each other. She is just everything to me so I'm a very happy person. There's always a good vibe around her, that's what everyone says, by the way.
She made such an effort to come to the Netherlands. And that's... you don't do that if you're not sure.
Well, Bria came to the Netherlands quite some times and there was one day we did our castle hunt, as I know Bria loves castles. So we were walking around one of those castles and we just started to realize that we're going to marry each other. And in our fantasy we would live in a castle.
There it just started. This fantasy became reality. We don't- we are not going to have a castle."Bria:
"Minus the castle."Bernd:
"That's no problem."
"Well, we've been meeting each other since the convention in August, 2019 until now. That's like, two years so we really got to know each other. She is just everything to me so I'm a very happy person. There's always a good vibe around her, that's what everyone says, by the way.
She made such an effort to come to the Netherlands. And that's... you don't do that if you're not sure.
Well, Bria came to the Netherlands quite some times and there was one day we did our castle hunt, as I know Bria loves castles. So we were walking around one of those castles and we just started to realize that we're going to marry each other. And in our fantasy we would live in a castle.
There it just started. This fantasy became reality. We don't- we are not going to have a castle."Bria:
"Minus the castle."Bernd:
"That's no problem."
And you, Bria? When did you know Bernd was the one?
Timestamp: [10:00]
Bria:
"Really, I think before my first trip here [Netherlands] in October or September, I think we had a really deep discussion and I was like really upset that day, I think. And the way he was just super comforting and just supportive, I was... aw no, why am I about to do this? [sniffs] The way he was super comforting and supportive, just like nobody else had ever before. I think I knew right then. I was like, I think I want to spend my life with this man so I had put it in my mind that I was going to ask him just to see where his mindset is when I came to visit, like how long did he want to date for or how long he wanted to be long distance because I knew... I was like, I don't think I can be apart from him for super long."Bernd:
"I can remember that day."Bria:
"Yeah.. okay, why am I crying?"Bernd:
"You can. It's okay."Bria:
"Okay."Bernd:
"Tears of happiness."
"Really, I think before my first trip here [Netherlands] in October or September, I think we had a really deep discussion and I was like really upset that day, I think. And the way he was just super comforting and just supportive, I was... aw no, why am I about to do this? [sniffs] The way he was super comforting and supportive, just like nobody else had ever before. I think I knew right then. I was like, I think I want to spend my life with this man so I had put it in my mind that I was going to ask him just to see where his mindset is when I came to visit, like how long did he want to date for or how long he wanted to be long distance because I knew... I was like, I don't think I can be apart from him for super long."Bernd:
"I can remember that day."Bria:
"Yeah.. okay, why am I crying?"Bernd:
"You can. It's okay."Bria:
"Okay."Bernd:
"Tears of happiness."
Who said "I love you" first?
Timestamp: [11:32]
Bernd:
"Me. On our zoom date, with the candle light and I printed out a lot of pictures and I decorated the room a bit... and there I said it... at the end. I think I also did it by the chat already."Bria:
"Yeah, he kind of snuck it in there. He said 'goodnight' and 'I love you'. And I was like.... freaking out. I think I text you, Megan, I was like 'ohmigundneheseid I love you'. I said it back."Bernd:
"You returned the favor."Bria:
"Yeah."Bernd:
"Thank you for doing that."Bria:
"You're welcome."
"Me. On our zoom date, with the candle light and I printed out a lot of pictures and I decorated the room a bit... and there I said it... at the end. I think I also did it by the chat already."Bria:
"Yeah, he kind of snuck it in there. He said 'goodnight' and 'I love you'. And I was like.... freaking out. I think I text you, Megan, I was like 'ohmigundneheseid I love you'. I said it back."Bernd:
"You returned the favor."Bria:
"Yeah."Bernd:
"Thank you for doing that."Bria:
"You're welcome."
After these many months of dating, what have you realized are your favorite things about each other?
Timestamp: [12:24]
Bernd:
"She makes great pancakes. And she can cook... tons of other stuff... very well. And... you [Bria]."Bria:
"I like his humor..."Bernd:
"You do?"Bria:
"Yeah."Bernd:
"Which one?"Bria:
(laughs) He is very silly and it matches my silly. I think we kind of feed off of each other. He's very kind. And has a very sweet and giving heart. I think that was one of the first things that I really loved about him, was that he was very caring for the people around him. Like when I talked to him, he was always doing stuff for the older friends and I really really loved that. It just showed that he wasn't a selfish person. So yeah, he was very giving, very caring, has a very adventurous spirit. And I love it. Love it. He's more spontaneous and I'm more safe so it helps me to meet in the middle."Bernd:
"Yeah, I totally agree that the things she said, you're [Bria] all those qualities. You're totally not selfish, you really care about everyone around you. Like young people, older people, and you're a hard worker. Loyal to persons around you, like people around you who are going to marry or going to get engaged, you really helped them from A to Z. And you cook great stuff, and I like how you care for Malaia everyday and your parents and that you're outgoing and spontaneous and hard-working, pioneering. Even through corona, you keep up with your preaching work. Though your job is getting more challenging, you did all of the corona measures, it's hard, but you keep on fighting....
Yeah, what can a man wish more for?"
"She makes great pancakes. And she can cook... tons of other stuff... very well. And... you [Bria]."Bria:
"I like his humor..."Bernd:
"You do?"Bria:
"Yeah."Bernd:
"Which one?"Bria:
(laughs) He is very silly and it matches my silly. I think we kind of feed off of each other. He's very kind. And has a very sweet and giving heart. I think that was one of the first things that I really loved about him, was that he was very caring for the people around him. Like when I talked to him, he was always doing stuff for the older friends and I really really loved that. It just showed that he wasn't a selfish person. So yeah, he was very giving, very caring, has a very adventurous spirit. And I love it. Love it. He's more spontaneous and I'm more safe so it helps me to meet in the middle."Bernd:
"Yeah, I totally agree that the things she said, you're [Bria] all those qualities. You're totally not selfish, you really care about everyone around you. Like young people, older people, and you're a hard worker. Loyal to persons around you, like people around you who are going to marry or going to get engaged, you really helped them from A to Z. And you cook great stuff, and I like how you care for Malaia everyday and your parents and that you're outgoing and spontaneous and hard-working, pioneering. Even through corona, you keep up with your preaching work. Though your job is getting more challenging, you did all of the corona measures, it's hard, but you keep on fighting....
Yeah, what can a man wish more for?"
Our Proposal
Sunday, May 16th, 2021
Now for the proposal.. Bernd, what was the plan and how did it happen?
Timestamp: [14:52]*You can see part of the proposal in the engagement video on the homepage.
Bernd:
"The plan was we were going to do family pictures. And it happened like that.
The only thing was, the box where the ring was in was, like huge. Super huge. So... I couldn't hide it. Bria's very good at surprising me, by the way. In lots of ways. So I wanted to surprise her, but as soon as we made some portraits, I was like... I can't carry it in my pocket. So I was grabbing it from my bag somewhere, trying to have it behind my back. And I think I surprised you [Bria] a bit with it? But everyone was dressed up, the whole family was there and there was even a zoom meeting going on. And there, the proposal started.
I had a huge other fantasy. Like, begin with castles and a pond with a boat. But this was beautiful."Bria:
"And he had to go through great lengths to do it."Bernd:
"That's the thing... traveling IN the United States was a bit like, an interesting hustle."Bria:
"Yeah, it was pretty rough. So... the hoops that he jumped to get over there [US] to do that [propose], was amazing."Bernd:
"Oh, I ran through a few airfields. I had three flights on the day to finally arrive in Birmingham that night, before the proposal. So, actually, I was maybe even happy that the proposal was not like a huge 24-hour plan, like with a pond and a castle. And like, people would give her letters, like notes, where she had to go to that tree and you will meet person B, who will give you this and that. Because that's how I thought it also could happen. But corona already made it very challenging. That's why I came via Curaçao. Stayed there for 15 days... quarantining. Which wasn't... was not good."Bria:
"Yeah."
"The plan was we were going to do family pictures. And it happened like that.
The only thing was, the box where the ring was in was, like huge. Super huge. So... I couldn't hide it. Bria's very good at surprising me, by the way. In lots of ways. So I wanted to surprise her, but as soon as we made some portraits, I was like... I can't carry it in my pocket. So I was grabbing it from my bag somewhere, trying to have it behind my back. And I think I surprised you [Bria] a bit with it? But everyone was dressed up, the whole family was there and there was even a zoom meeting going on. And there, the proposal started.
I had a huge other fantasy. Like, begin with castles and a pond with a boat. But this was beautiful."Bria:
"And he had to go through great lengths to do it."Bernd:
"That's the thing... traveling IN the United States was a bit like, an interesting hustle."Bria:
"Yeah, it was pretty rough. So... the hoops that he jumped to get over there [US] to do that [propose], was amazing."Bernd:
"Oh, I ran through a few airfields. I had three flights on the day to finally arrive in Birmingham that night, before the proposal. So, actually, I was maybe even happy that the proposal was not like a huge 24-hour plan, like with a pond and a castle. And like, people would give her letters, like notes, where she had to go to that tree and you will meet person B, who will give you this and that. Because that's how I thought it also could happen. But corona already made it very challenging. That's why I came via Curaçao. Stayed there for 15 days... quarantining. Which wasn't... was not good."Bria:
"Yeah."
What were you thinking when you proposed?
Timestamp: [17:27]
Bernd:
"Of a very beautiful future... with Bria."
Did you think Bria would say yes?
Timestamp: [17:47]
Bernd:
"I wasn't 100% sure, but I just hoped for it. And otherwise, I would do everything to make her. That is, was never a no. For life, I mean."
So it was obviously a success, someone even got a little emotional.. Bria, did you have any expectations for the proposal beforehand?
Timestamp: [18:15]
Bria:
"No... just hoping that my dad gave his blessing on it. That was about the most nerve-wracking thing. I was thinking that whatever he [Bernd] did would be amazing.Bernd:
"The talk with your dad was, indeed, an interesting moment. I was really like 'what is he going to say actually?' I hope he's okay.
I never met him before. I never saw him in real life until that day. And that same day, we discussed this like 'is it okay to take Bria away?'
"No... just hoping that my dad gave his blessing on it. That was about the most nerve-wracking thing. I was thinking that whatever he [Bernd] did would be amazing.Bernd:
"The talk with your dad was, indeed, an interesting moment. I was really like 'what is he going to say actually?' I hope he's okay.
I never met him before. I never saw him in real life until that day. And that same day, we discussed this like 'is it okay to take Bria away?'
What are you two most looking forward to as far as the wedding?
Timestamp: [19:14]
Bria:
"For it to be over." (laughs)Bernd:
"That's a beautiful answer."Bria:
"Wedding planning is rough, especially with corona and you can't have all of the people there that you want. Especially everybody from his [Bernd's] side can't come. That's what I really hate. I'm waiting for it to be over. But [also looking forward to] it being the beginning of our life together. It's the most thing I'm looking forward to."Bernd:
"I totally agree on it. It's pretty terrible that we can't invite our friends from Holland. Sorry daarvoor. Yeah, it's just what you said, that it is a nice day. Respectful day with okay weather, not like a sauna. And the dance, maybe? The talk, yeah.
"For it to be over." (laughs)Bernd:
"That's a beautiful answer."Bria:
"Wedding planning is rough, especially with corona and you can't have all of the people there that you want. Especially everybody from his [Bernd's] side can't come. That's what I really hate. I'm waiting for it to be over. But [also looking forward to] it being the beginning of our life together. It's the most thing I'm looking forward to."Bernd:
"I totally agree on it. It's pretty terrible that we can't invite our friends from Holland. Sorry daarvoor. Yeah, it's just what you said, that it is a nice day. Respectful day with okay weather, not like a sauna. And the dance, maybe? The talk, yeah.
Are there any last words to the guests?
Timestamp: [20:21]
Bria:
"Even though a lot of people did not know that I was dating... ever since I made it known, everybody's been super supportive. I thank everybody for their support and know that I am going to love and miss my family back at home, but I assure you that I am in the greatest of hands.Bernd:
"Thank you."Bria:
"He is super amazing and I couldn't have found a better person to spend my life with."Bernd:
"I totally agree on that and [speaks Dutch]. What I said is, we had a lot of support, supporters, friends who were curious at how we were doing- during the challenge of courtship and being far away from each other. And we feel sorry that everyone cannot come to the wedding, but we would love to meet you later when it's possible again. And I'm super happy, also especially, like Raema... Jordie.... a lot of others, they put us somehow together. It was all such a great coincidence, which we thank Jehovah for.Bria:
"Yeah. Oh and Dank je wel [thanks in Dutch]... to my new family and friends here in the Netherlands. They've been the best. Can't wait to start my life here. Doei! [goodbye in Dutch]Bernd:
"Bye y'all. See you soon!"
"Even though a lot of people did not know that I was dating... ever since I made it known, everybody's been super supportive. I thank everybody for their support and know that I am going to love and miss my family back at home, but I assure you that I am in the greatest of hands.Bernd:
"Thank you."Bria:
"He is super amazing and I couldn't have found a better person to spend my life with."Bernd:
"I totally agree on that and [speaks Dutch]. What I said is, we had a lot of support, supporters, friends who were curious at how we were doing- during the challenge of courtship and being far away from each other. And we feel sorry that everyone cannot come to the wedding, but we would love to meet you later when it's possible again. And I'm super happy, also especially, like Raema... Jordie.... a lot of others, they put us somehow together. It was all such a great coincidence, which we thank Jehovah for.Bria:
"Yeah. Oh and Dank je wel [thanks in Dutch]... to my new family and friends here in the Netherlands. They've been the best. Can't wait to start my life here. Doei! [goodbye in Dutch]Bernd:
"Bye y'all. See you soon!"
Live Interview
Watch Bria and Bernd's initial reactions to the questions above as they respond with full candor.