HOW WE MET
It started in 2016 when Benny moved back from New York and found Sunda on Instagram. He slid into the DMs to get to know her, and Sunda—intrigued by his blonde hair—followed him back. We eventually exchanged numbers but our text conversations were sporadic. Benny would randomly ask the most deep questions like, "What does happiness mean to you?" and Sunda would respond in long-thoughtful texts.
We spent years crossing paths, officially meeting at a pop-up at RE:BAR while Benny was selling his line, In the Field. Eventually, we became real friends—spending time at Edgewater, going on bike rides on Coventry, hitting museums, and even wandering through Home Goods. By 2021, a Larry June concert turned into our first real date.
THE FIRST DATE
Our "official" start was a total accident. Sunda had an extra ticket to Larry June and asked Ben to go—just as friends. He said, "yes." But a 4 AM phone call changed everything. While Sunda was prepping for a speaking engagement at the University of Cincinnati, Benny called to make sure she was ready. After a long-awkward pause, Sunda asked, "Is that it?" and Benny finally admitted he was catching feelings and wanted to date, like forreal. Ironically, the concert was the next day.
Before the show, we met up at Benny's house, he played Kaytranada’s "Intimidated" about a hundred times while we pregamed, sharing a bottle of Cabernet. Then we grabbed a slice of pizza at Edison’s, had cocktails at Cloak and Dagger, and ended the night sneaking into VIP at House of Blues.
We’ve been locked in since.
THE PROPOSAL
In September 2025, we headed to Italy for Vince and Ashley’s wedding—Sunda’s first time ever leaving the country. For years, she had sent Benny reels of the Amalfi Coast, so being there felt surreal. We spent the day having lunch by the water and hanging out by the sea. Sunda was in total disbelief, moved to tears by how beautiful it was to experience this with Benny.
Just before it was time to board, Benny asked a stranger to take a photo of us by the water. The stranger told us to "get close, kiss"—and when Sunda opened her eyes, Ben was down on one knee.
On the most beautiful day imaginable, she said, "Yes, very so much so!"
THE WEDDING
September 19th was everything we dreamed of and more. Surrounded by our favorite people, great music, and the city we love so much, Cleveland became the backdrop for our favorite memory yet. We spent the night dancing under the lights, laughing until it hurt, and celebrating the official start of Forever Holbert. It was a day dedicated to love, community, and the people who have cheered us on through every chapter.
While the wedding day itself came and went in a flash, it laid the foundation for everything we are building next—proving that the best part isn't just the party, but the lifetime of coming home to each other after it’s over.
