Over 10 years in the making

Brian and Marina met for the first time (three different times) while attending Portland State University.  The first time was during a speech class, where she noticed him walk into the room and take a front row seat. The second time was at a party, after mutual friends told them they had crushes on each other. And then after a few months of dating, Brian and Marina discovered the REAL first time they met: two years earlier, in the lobby of the student union, when he bought a book from her.

In March 2006, Brian concocted a plan to ask Marina to be his girlfriend with a mixtape.  On their way out to Rockaway Beach, they listened to the first of what would be many mixtapes that would tell their love story. At the end of the mix, the songs and soundbites were spliced together to say "Marina, will you be my girlfriend?"

And she said "Finally!...I thought you'd never ask!" 

From bboy battles to Juice Jams, from kayaking in Hawaii to karaoke in Tokyo, Brian and Marina have made great memories with great friends. And it is these moments that are the heart of their love story and what, eventually, spawned "#BARINA". 

In 2016, Brian concocted another plan. It was coming up on their 10 year anniversary and Marina's 30th birthday - what better time for a mixtape? He enlisted the help of their friends and family to plan the biggest surprise for Marina yet.

On January 30th, Brian took Marina on a surprise drive. Unbeknownst to her, they were heading out to the very same house at Rockaway Beach where he had first asked her to be his girlfriend. On the way there, they stopped at places that had great significance in their relationship - where they first met, where they had their first date, where they first kissed. Along the drive, Brian played her a new mixtape that told the story of their love through songs and clips from movies and TV. As they pulled into the driveway of the house, the mixtape ended and Brian took Marina to the front door. They stood right outside and Brian recounted to her their love story from the beginning up to the present day.  Finally he said, "If you're ready for the next step in our relationship, open this door." Marina opened the door and was greeted by the surprise of all of their friends and family arranged in a circle and holding candles. As their song played, and surrounded by their loved ones, Brian knelt down on one knee and asked Marina to marry him. 

And she said "YES!"