It was in early 2019 when businessman Michael Hearn and fashion designer Dominique Cojuangco let the online world into their blossoming love story. Friends and followers started seeing glimpses of special moments they shared together via their Instagram feeds. The posts were noteworthy despite being few and far between—they were mostly hikes and coffee dates. Probably an effort to keep the relationship private without completely hiding it from the world.

A major announcement would come a couple of years later, when the pair launched The Collective, an online shop offering a curated selection of skincare essentials and solutions. But the bigger revelation came five months later when they declared they were taking their partnership to the next level.

On October 14, 2021, Dominique posted a photo of herself showing off a gorgeous diamond engagement ring, and another photo with her and Michael’s pinkies intertwined. “For life,” went the caption.

On the same day, Michael shared a couple other shots from the same milestone and captioned it: “On to the next chapter with @dominique.” The engagement took place at the “spot where Dom and I first reconnected after many years,” Michael said.

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A post shared by Dominique Cojuangco (@dominique)

The couple fills us in on the rest of the romantic details in their interview for their Metro Weddings digital cover story, now up on Metro.Style. In the feature, Dominique shares that while she had met Michael during her time at British School Manila, it was only at the launch of his cocktail bar Run Rabbit Run in 2018 that they “saw each other in a new light.” Hearn co-founded the well-loved Poblacion bar with friends.

“It was only on another night when [Dominique] was at Run Rabbit Run that she came to say goodbye and we ended up meeting each other’s gaze,” goes Michael’s recollection. “In that moment, everything cleared and changed, and I saw her.”

While the attraction was there, the two didn’t start dating right away. La Greta’s daughter had to deal with a health issue and afterwards went on a planned European trip. On her return, that was when the lunch dates and dinner dates became regular.

One can glean that being business partners allowed the pair to realize they’re a match, professionally and romantically. In The Collective, Michael handles the operation and finance side while Dominique takes care of merchandising and marketing. From their IG posts, one won’t be wrong to say that both share a love for food, travel, and their fur baby, Chapo.

Michael, 35, is an accomplished businessman, currently serving as the executive director of the family-owned Hearn & Hearn Consulting, a construction consultancy firm. He’s also co-founder and director of One Solution Asia, which offers similar services across Southeast and East Asia. His other businesses are Clear Ice Company Philippines and Winery PH.

The wedding proposal took place last October when Michael’s sister was in town. “[We] had a number of stories running to confuse Dominique on all the preparation we had done and what was about to happen一fake meetings, fake restaurant booking, fake phone calls, turning the car around for a fake work emergency. [Dominique] really had no idea,” the groom-to-be tells Metro.Style.

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A post shared by Michael Hearn (@mj.hearn)

The big moment took place where it all started. “It was important to propose somewhere that had meaning to us,” continues Michael. “It was the exact same spot where our gaze met and caused that spark that led to us starting our relationship.” It happened at Run Rabbit Run’s dimly lit second floor, next to the drinks cabinet—which on that evening has been filled with the couple’s framed photographs instead of bottles of alcohol.

Michael tells Metro.Style his fiancée fits right into the Hearn family dynamic. “We are very close and enjoy spending time together,” he reveals. “When I initially asked my parents for their blessing, there was no ‘Are you sure?,’ more so a ‘What took you so long?’ They both love Dominique.”