We met at church when a new congregation was formed and became friends within a year of first meeting. We went on a couple of dates several months later, and our favorite one was a Luke Bryan concert in Bristow, VA, where we both felt this could be something special. And as they say, the rest is history! We bonded over cupcakes while both studying at George Mason University, and maintained a long distance relationship after graduation, graduate school, moves, and new jobs. Look how far our little money and cupcakes brought us!

As our anniversary fell on a weekday in the middle of a busy work week and competition month for Alexandra, we made plans to meet on Saturday, February 18, 2023, a few days before our big nine-year anniversary. We set it as a day full of fun in Washington, D.C., starting with our favorite special celebratory eating spot, Texas de Brazil (plus with our gift cards there, why not go!). We had an early dinner so we could catch the sunset at the Lincoln Memorial in downtown D.C. As fate would have it, hundreds of people were there that day, for whatever reason despite it being 40 degrees outside. Unbeknownced to Alexandra, Mark planned to make this trip even more special, to propose to her. He knew she wouldn’t prefer a large crowd presence for his marriage proposal to her, so he was anxious to find another special monument or quiet place with meaning to propose, hoping to still catch the sun before it set. Searching and circling the National Mall for parking, again fate struck, and they luckily found a spot by the Constitutional Gardens. Alexandra and Mark took a long stroll along the pond and willows, admiring the stone memorial for the U.S. Declaration of Independence Signors. Mark knew this was the perfect spot: the water, the weeping willow trees (which Alexandra adores), and the significance of America’s founding, whose history is near and dear to both Mark and Alexandra. Quietly, Mark paused by the Virginia signor’s stone, and proposed, to which Alexandra said, “Always, yes!”. We're so excited for this next chapter in our lives and cannot wait to celebrate with you. Xoxo Mark & Alex