A Quest for the Best Coffee in New York Leads to Love

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.”