Esther & Loren in San Jose, CA

Esther and Loren met at a New Year’s Eve party. Both avid mountain bikers, the two immediately delved into conversation about outdoor adventures. “We talked about our love of cycling, camping, backpacking, and other outdoor activities,” says Esther. “I just wanted to talk to him all night long.” They put each other’s adventurous nature to the test with a first date at an indoor rock climbing gym. He told her he was impressed with her climbing abilities, and the two soon became inseparable. The Bride Esther Kim, 30, software engineer The Groom Loren Thomas, 34, mechanical engineer The Date September 8 Two years later, while on a rock climbing trip to “Lover’s Leap” near Lake Tahoe, Loren decided to propose. After considering a clifftop proposal, he settled on getting down on one knee at their campsite after the big trip, for fear of dropping the ring. “It was very fitting for us, having this special moment take place in a beautiful outdoor location,” says Esther.