Skilled tennis participant Carol Zhao and DoorDash co-founder Andy Fang each attended Stanford College on the identical time—Andy even lived throughout the corridor from considered one of Carol’s bridesmaids throughout freshman yr—but it surely wasn’t till they each graduated that they linked. After Zhao sustained an damage within the spring of 2019 on the tennis circuit, she returned to San Francisco, the place their paths lastly crossed. “I had no concept that what felt like a profession misfortune on the time could be the impetus to the beginning of our relationship,” Carol says. “Now, it feels prefer it was destiny.”
Their first date occurred on the Biergarten in Hayes Valley, San Francisco. “What began out as a easy dialog over drinks changed into a multi-hour affair that spanned a number of bars within the neighborhood,” Andy says. “And even a rooster ramen dinner!”
After they began relationship (and Carol recovered from her damage) the tennis calendar stored Carol touring near 10 months a yr, so it took critical planning for Andy to lock down a time and place to suggest. “In February 2023, I made a decision to suggest in Austin, Texas and likewise looped her dad and mom into my plans,” Andy remembers. “After I arrived, I pretended all of us had been going out for a pleasant dinner however shocked Carol with my proposal. Afterwards, we celebrated collectively at a close-by Mexican restaurant, Suerte.”
“I cherished that it was easy, intimate, and personal,” Carol says. “Simply the 2 of us in that second.”
The couple’s marriage ceremony was on Saturday, July 20, on the Belmond Villa San Michele within the hills of Florence, Italy. Florence was one of many first cities Carol’s dad and mom traveled to after they acquired married, and Andy had at all times needed to appreciate a household journey to Europe that he’d deliberate to soak up 2020, however that fell via because of the pandemic. “Since our visitors had been coming from varied locations world wide, we felt extra comfy providing Florence as our marriage ceremony vacation spot,” Andy says. “And we couldn’t be happier about that call!”
That they had round a yr to scout areas, go to websites, style menus, and plan the itinerary, but it surely was no small activity. Their planners—Colin Cowie Occasions—ensured they stayed on observe. It was vital to the couple that they spend significant time with every visitor, in order that they curated the occasions and visitor lodging with connection and group in thoughts, they usually labored with Cowie and his group to plan each facet. “They had been a tremendous associate to assist form our marriage ceremony celebration and make it come to life,” Carol says. “Throughout the marriage ceremony weekend, the Colin Cowie Life-style group was extraordinarily detail-oriented and catered to any want we had. The extent of service was a cherry on prime of an already superb weekend.”
