From Lauren's perspective: We both swiped right! Brian was in my first set of matches on Tinder (so I'm currently at a 100% success rate!). Brian messaged me first, and we continuously messaged on the app for the next two weeks. When I would be out with friends, I was more worried about messaging Brian ("the guy from Tinder") than talking to the people I was with. Brian asked to take me out on Valentine's Day. I said no: what pressure for an actual date on Valentine's Day! But he persistently pursued until a date was rescheduled for the next weekend at a really nice restaurant in Charlottesville, Maya. I texted all my friends to let them know to make sure they heard from me by 9 pm, because I was going out with "the guy from Tinder." First date from Brian's perspective: I was really nervous for my first date with Lauren. We had been talking (almost nonstop) for two weeks, and I had been dying to meet her. I made up the excuse of an interview for a summer job bringing me to Charlottesville and trudged through the February snow to Maya. Lauren's pictures really did not do her justice. I was blown away by her beauty and by her intelligence. The conversation was different from the typical first date; we had spoken so much online it felt like we knew everything about one another! (Lauren interrupting: Brian felt he knew me so well, that 15 minutes into the date he asked me to "Law Prom" - Barrister's Ball - which was a black tie event the next weekend. I said yes hoping that the rest of the date wasn't a dud.) In fact, when we went to a bar after dinner, a woman we struck up a conversation with asked us how long we had been a couple. Our first kiss was a perfect end to an amazing first date: a kiss under a lamppost in the snow.

From Lauren's perspective: After dating for about 3 years, my UVA reunion got closer and Brian got shady. He was hiding his phone from me and really short in conversation. He was nervous. I knew it was coming, and I figured the proposal must be this weekend when we'd be with our friends at a place we loved. During the day of my reunion, my friends and I were going around to wineries in Charlottesville. I thought now was the time! But no ring. Brian was not himself all day which was assuring me that a proposal was going to happen, but when? I was getting impatient. Finally, when we were on our way back to the AirBnB from wineries, Brian boldly suggests we get ready for dinner and "walk around the Rotunda at 5:45." For background, Brian has never planned anything or made a time inquiry such as this. So I knew: I would be proposed to at 5:45 at the Rotunda (a historic UVA landmark). We had some time before the impending 5:45 time, and I suggested we take a quick nap. Brian insisted he did not want to take a nap. He said, "If you take a nap, just be sure to be up in time for us to be at the Rotunda at 5:45... We can't be late. " I called my mom and let her know it was about to happen. From Brian's perspective: Full disclosure: I am bad at keeping secrets and even worse at lying. Pretty much everyone knew, and I had a feeling Lauren, was on to me. I was certainly terrified. Lauren and I had talked about getting engaged in the past, so I was almost 100% sure she'd say yes...and yet, there's that little part of your brain asking, "What if?" When we got to the Rotunda and she saw the photographer, Lauren looked at me with a smirk and a mischievous glint in her eye. However, it all melted away into tears and joy when I took her to her favorite spot on Grounds, a sundial in front of the Rotunda with a quote on how love is eternal, and I dropped to a knee. It was the first step of the rest of our lives.

Weeknights from Lauren's perspective: We spend most evenings trying new recipes and watching Cutthroat Kitchen with our cat, Percy. Weekends from Brian's perspective: Of course I get the hard one: beerfests, going out in DC with friends, traveling to Charlottesville or Asheville, or staying in and reprising our weekday plans.