The couple that thrifts together, stays together. That might not be a common expression that applies to everyone, but it certainly does to Brice Mercer and his bride-to-be, Siria Ochoa. The two are set to be married on October 12 of this year after a romantic proposal in the glassware section of our Salem St. Vinnie’s store!
A recent photo of Brice Mercer and Siria Ochoa in the aisles of the Salem St. Vinnie’s store, where he proposed to her in 2023.
Brice shared the couple’s story with the St. Vincent de Paul social-media account and says that thrifting has been a part of his life since he was young and living in Georgia.
“I grew up going to thrift stores with my mom and grandmother and it’s my favorite way to spend my free time,” he says.
After relocating to the Pacific Northwest in 2017, Brice quickly discovered that Oregon was hiding a gem for thrift shoppers with its many St. Vinnie’s stores. He met Siria and after discovering they had a shared interest in thrift shopping, it became a staple in their dating life.
“We’d had hundreds of thrift store dates over the last two years. It was such an important bonding experience that I decided to propose to my now fiancé at the Northeast Salem St. Vincent de Paul.”
Brice popped the question at the store on May 7, 2023, and the two have spent the time leading up to the wedding planning and thrifting their decorations from St. Vinnie’s.
“I appreciate what your stores do for the community,” he says, “and on a personal level, it means so much that I was able to build a relationship with Siria while searching for treasures in your stores.”
All of us here at SVdP would like to wish the happy couple a blessed day on their wedding and a happy marriage. By way of congratulations and thanks, St. Vinnie’s will be sending Brice and Siria a $100.00 gift card so that they can continue their thrifting journey with us!