WEI’S STORY
Wei grew up in Jinan, China and the first time she left the country took her all the way to Iowa City, IA for freshman orientation. Wei earned a Masters Degree in accountancy and a Bachelors degree in Finance from the University of Iowa. Following college, Wei moved to New York and spent five years working for a global investment bank in their asset backed securities and structured products business. Weeks before getting engaged Wei started the next chapter of her career with a multi-strategy alternative asset manager in New York.
Wei loves cooking, traveling, and skiing with Derek!
DEREK’S STORY
Derek grew up in Wayzata, Minnesota and earned dual-degrees in accounting & engineering management – systems analysis at Miami University. Derek has worked in equity-linked capital markets for a global investment bank in New York and San Francisco since his graduation from college. While working, Derek earned his private pilot license.
Derek likes eating what Wei cooks, traveling, skiing and flying.
THEIR STORY
Derek and Wei met in the summer of 2012 during their summer internships thanks to a mutual friend. Years of friendship blossomed into something more when Wei got sick of waiting and told Derek he was supposed to take her out for a Valentine’s Day dinner. Dinner plans turned into a last minute ski trip, which would be the first of many adventures around the world. They truly are meant for each other and are so blissfully in love and excited to be getting married!
THE PROPOSAL
Derek and Wei left New York in mid-July for what was supposed to be their 4th annual summer-time two-week’er abroad. Or so Wei thought. The first week was spent on a road trip around Qinghai and Gansu provinces with Wei’s family and their friends. Without knowing the itinerary in advance Derek managed to pick the most beautiful location. The Chaka Salt Lake, know as the mirror of the sky in China.
The only issue left was how to ask her father’s permission. With the help of Google translate, and the clever excuse of capturing a photo op Derek managed to separate Wei from her Dad and awkwardly pass him the note on his iPhone. A smile and a handshake, the universal sign of approval. Wasting no time Derek ran out into the salt water and got down on one knee to propose!
