Cayla was excited to finally meet this Alex that her roommate, Theresa, had told her about. She was going out in Boston's North End, and Alex would be there. Alex didn't know of this Cayla because his friend Josh (Theresa's boyfriend), had neglected to mention he knew a beautiful ginger from Wisconsin. Yet as soon as Alex saw Cayla, the attraction was mutual. After a night discussing their Big Ten colleges, South American study abroad trips, and shared left-handedness, these two future lovebirds hoped they'd see each other again. About a month later (it felt like years), Alex was out downtown, but when he heard you-know-who was at a party, he hurried on over. After playing tic-tac-toe and Cayla serenading Alex with Free Fallin' on the guitar (the only song she kinda knows how to play), they knew they had something. A first date the next Friday and "Snowpacolypse" the weekend after, and #leikwasstartingtoturntolove.

While no one would accuse Alex and Cayla of being rugged outdoors-people, the Shenandoah mountains in Virginia have become one of their favorite places to hike and even camp (yes, Cayla has made Alex promise to go camping once a year). So Cayla didn't blink twice when Alex asked if she wanted to go to their beloved Shenandoahs for a beautiful May weekend, and stay in a little town called Madison...Virginia. After going to their new favorite (and the most picturesque) brewery on Friday night, Alex eagerly awoke Cayla the next morning for the hike to the intended proposal spot, Hawksbill Peak. Yet when they got to the top, it was filled with a bunch of pesky tourists. Alex couldn't propose in front of all those people! Nevertheless, they enjoyed the breath-taking views for a few minutes before starting their descent. Alex, somewhat dismayed but still determined, quickly discovered a side path to another lookout point. He suggested they check it out, and Cayla agreed. They took in the views, but Cayla grew impatient as Alex stalled, anxiously waiting for the one other hiker/amateur birdwatcher to leave. The moment he left, Alex agreed to continue on, but first needed to drink some water. He knelt down, reached into his backpack and pulled out a small red box. He said some things that Cayla doesn't remember because she was bawling, but she managed to somehow say yes. And that's how Alex proposed to Cayla on the side-peak of a mountain.