we're getting married!

You always hear the phrase "love at first sight," but for us, "first sight" would've been around 10 years before we started dating—at a time when we were at such different points in our lives that we didn't really notice each other (and given our age gap, any sparks would’ve been very weird back then lol). It wasn’t until 2015 that our paths truly crossed. As many of you know (and as Ashley's mom loves to tell people), we met thanks to Rachel (Ashley’s sister) and Brian (Steve’s brother), who were dating at the time and are now married. We would each make plans with Rachel and Brian on the weekends, and we naturally began gravitating toward each other. Although Ashley had to go back to school, we’d occasionally see each other when visiting Rachel’s place in Federal Hill. At that point, it was just an innocent crush, and we continued on with our lives. But then came the summer of 2016, when things got real. A big group of us went camping at Harper’s Ferry for the 4th of July, and the two of us were subtly flirting (or so we thought) all weekend long. On the last night, with some liquid courage, Steve kissed Ashley. The rest of the summer was filled with more of the same—hanging out with Rachel and Brian and eagerly looking forward to seeing each other. When Ashley had to go back to school for her senior year, we didn’t want to lose touch. We continued to talk every day, and Steve made the effort to visit her in College Park. It was clear that our connection was only growing stronger. We officially started dating on December 3, 2016, when we were at a UMD basketball game (go Terps) with some of our family. Somehow, we snagged the two good seats down by the court! And now here we are, 8 years later! Our journey has been filled with unforgettable moments and growth, and we cherish the little family we've created with Harley. We're so excited for our future together, and we truly cannot wait to celebrate our big day with all of the people we love!

The best day EVER—June 20, 2024! Ashley thought they were grabbing crabs and drinks with some of their family members who were in town, but little did she know, that wasn’t the plan at all! As they pulled up to Kent Island Resort, Steve said they were all at a beach bar around back. They started walking, but Ashley quickly noticed there was no bar in sight. Steve suggested they continue toward the water, just to be sure. At this point, Ashley's heart was pounding—she knew something special was about to happen! When they reached the water, Steve got down on one knee, gave a heartfelt speech (which they both somehow blacked out during), and asked Ashley to marry him. To make the moment even more magical, he had a photographer hiding nearby to capture it all! And if that wasn’t enough, both Ashley’s and Steve’s families came out from hiding, cheering and celebrating. That’s when the tears really started flowing! They spent the rest of the afternoon hanging out with their families, drinking champagne, and celebrating their exciting news. Their families even surprised them with a room for the night, which was decorated with balloons, banners, and pictures of them throughout the years. Talk about being on CLOUD NINE! It was truly the most special day that we will cherish forever!