After two years of being single, Andrea Ng decided to create a profile on OkCupid. In her description she wrote, “Looking for the best coffee in New York,” hoping to spark engaging conversations.
Justin Ryan Leung, who was adjusting to single life after the end of a seven-year relationship, was intrigued. “What caught my attention was her quest for the best coffee,” he said. “It made me think she’d enjoy exploring the city, something I love to do.”
When he asked her if she had found the best spot yet, their conversation led to a first date at Devoción, a coffee shop in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
On Jan. 3, 2015, Mr. Leung arrived early, nervously searching for the perfect seat. When Ms. Ng walked in, broken umbrella in hand and soaked from the rain, their nerves melted away as they began talking. “I couldn’t believe we were talking for over two hours — with no alcohol, just coffee and doughnuts, being present,” she said.
Coincidentally, both had plans in Chinatown later that evening. Ms. Ng planned to meet friends at Shanghai Cafe and Mr. Leung was attending his grandfather’s 90th birthday. He offered her a ride, and the conversation continued as they bonded over shared interests like travel, architecture, and rom-coms. He was her first and last online match.
Ms. Ng, 35, is a public relations director at the Lede Company, overseeing global communications. In 2008, she moved from Vancouver, British Columbia, to attend N.Y.U., from which she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in media, culture, and communication.
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Mr. Leung, 38, is an architecture and design manager at Ralph Lauren Architecture and Design Studio. He grew up in Whitestone, Queens, and earned a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Syracuse University.
A second date followed 10 days later, and they soon began seeing each other regularly. One of her favorite early dates was a cozy movie night watching “10 Things I Hate About You,” where he brought food from Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken and 10 sauces, a thoughtful gesture that “sealed the deal” for her.
The couple moved into an apartment in Manhattan’s TriBeCa neighborhood in September 2016. They now live in Brooklyn Heights.
On June 28, 2016, Ms. Ng and Mr. Leung found their relationship tested under extraordinary circumstances. They had traveled to Istanbul for a friend’s wedding and were awaiting a domestic flight at Atatürk Airport when news broke of a terrorist attack. The attack had occurred just an hour earlier, in the same terminal they had recently passed through. “It was terrifying,” Ms. Ng said. “Justin was calm and gave clear directions, making me feel safe in a way I’ll never forget.”
For Mr. Leung, the moment required immediate action. “We’re in this situation, and I had to communicate with her in a new way very quickly,’ he recalled. ‘I asked, ‘Andrea, do you trust me?’ and guided us to safety. ” The experience, though harrowing, became a critical point in their relationship, cementing their trust and ability to handle challenges together.
Last year, on March 22, Mr. Leung proposed at Devoción, where they had their first date. “I teared up and said, ‘I love you and want to spend my life with you,’” he said. As baristas played “Kiss Me” by Sixpence None the Richer, Ms. Ng said yes, and the cafe customers applauded. They celebrated with dinner at Aska, a Scandinavian restaurant in Brooklyn, where he shared what he couldn’t say during the proposal: “These past 10 years have been the best of my life, and you are the best part of it.”
Three wedding celebrations marked their marriage. “We did everything backward, and it wasn’t our initial plan,” Ms. Ng said, “but each one served a different purpose.”
They legally wed on Jan. 3, at New York City Hall, officiated by Guohuan Zhang, a city clerk, with Mr. Leung’s parents as witnesses. The day included lunch at the Odeon and dinner at Bridges, both in Manhattan. The following day, they hosted an after-party for 69 guests at Sommwhere, an event space on the Lower East Side, featuring D.J. sets by close friends, heart-shaped pizzas, and their first dance to Lauryn Hill’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You.”
Before that, on Oct. 4, 2024, they exchanged personal vows in an intimate ceremony with 58 guests at Herdade dos Delgados in Mourão, Portugal.
And on Nov. 17, they hosted a family-focused celebration in Hong Kong at the Island Shangri-La, featuring a tea ceremony and banquet with 129 guests.
Ms. Ng wore a Cecilie Bahnsen dress for all three celebrations, paired with a Mikimoto pearl necklace from Mr. Leung’s mother, a diamond watch borrowed from her mother, and a heart-shaped diamond ring gifted from mother. Mr. Leung incorporated family heritage for his celebratory attire, wearing his grandfather’s Yves Saint Laurent suit and heirlooms like his grandmother’s ring and father-in-law’s Rolex watch.
Ms. Ng described their three weddings as a journey, each celebration reflecting an aspect of their relationship. “The Portugal wedding was about us — our love story and vows,” she said. “The Hong Kong wedding honored family and tradition. And the civil ceremony brought it together, finalizing everything.”
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