How it all began
October 2015
The First Encounter
In October of their freshman year at USC, Brooke and Bharat met at a date dash. They actually went with different dates so there isn’t a picture of them from that night, but in the spirit of revisionist history, here’s one we thought was nice anyway.
March 2017
Sparks Flew
In the spring of 2017, fate played its hand when Bharat bumped into Brooke at a networking event and offered to walk her home afterwards. Immediately smitten, he sent a candy “delivery” from his fraternity to her sorority – an age-old USC tradition – shortly after. The present sat in sorority limbo for a week before Brooke finally responded.
April 8, 2017
The First Date
At long last, Bharat and Brooke’s first date led them to Chichen Itza, a local restaurant near USC. Just look at those smiles!
May 7 Dating Anniversary
Going the Distance
Just as Brooke was about to head off for a summer abroad in Dijon, France, Bharat delivered a heartfelt pitch for going the distance – literally. After one month together, they decided to make things official and committed to a long-distance relationship for the next three months.
July 4
First Arkansas Visit
On the day Brooke returned from France, the Baledge family invited Bharat to visit their home in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Brooke loved playing tour guide and introducing Bharat to the wonders of the Ozark Mountains, the beauty of Crystal Bridges (where they’re set to be married!), and his first taste of gloriously fried Southern foods. (Mina’s famous homemade Belgian crêpes were a hit as well.)
December 2017 – Off to France / Work
The Parisian Chapter
Saying goodbye for a few months.
In the spring of their junior year, Brooke headed to Paris to study abroad, and Bharat took a leave of absence from USC, working and making trips to spend time with Brooke in Europe.
September 2018-2019
USC Years
B&B reunited at USC for their senior year. They spent the year finishing their studies, enjoying day trips to Joshua Tree and Southern California beaches, taking a romantic Spring Break trip to Hawaii, and spending time with their shared friends and families. They graduated together in May 2019.
The Dark Ages
Brooke and Bharat took what they like to call an “intermission” after graduation, embarking on separate adventures. Brooke moved to Bordeaux, France to teach English and dyed her hair (totally unrelated to the intermission). After the pandemic brought her back home sooner than expected, she started law school at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill in the fall of 2020. Meanwhile, Bharat brewed up his own new venture in Los Angeles, founding a chai company with his sister, Radha, while also working in consulting.
2022
Act II
B&B reunited in Los Angeles – as a couple – in 2022. Many joyful tears were shed.
Unbeknownst to them, Brooke and Bharat’s friends, Justin and Alia, were pulling strings behind the scenes to rekindle their lost romance. In the spring of 2022, Brooke flew to Denver for Justin and Alia’s engagement party…on the same weekend that Bharat was in town for a work conference. With a little nudge from Justin, Bharat seized the moment. Bharat delivered a monologue worthy of Shakespeare to convince Brooke to give their relationship another go. (Brooke would like to intervene here to clarify that she didn’t need too much convincing!) Finally, they closed the curtain on their intermission, ready for Act II of their love story.
August 2023
Celebrate
B&B traveled to Basque Country, in France and Spain, for a celebratory post-bar exam trip in August 2023 (she passed!). The lovebirds got to spend time with Brooke’s extended family, who live there. Many croissants were eaten.
September 2023
Home at Last
Brooke and Bharat moved in together in Los Angeles in September 2023. Bharat further wooed Brooke with his mastery of Facebook Marketplace haggling.
January 2024
The Firstborn
A family of three! In January 2024, Brooke and Bharat adopted Sita, their sweet, spunky, and spooky black cat. They couldn’t love her more.
June 2024
Engagement
Bharat proposed to Brooke in Laguna Beach, California. They both cried.
August 2024
Engagement Ceremony (“Nichayathartham”)
The Vishnubhotla family hosted Bharat and Brooke’s Hindu engagement ceremony, the Nichayathartham, at their home in Irvine, California. B&B loved having both of their families together for the special day. Their extended families finally got to meet, including Bharat’s older sister, Radha, Brooke’s twin brother, Barrett, and his wife, Tierin.