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Ryan and Catie met while Ryan was studying abroad at the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill. Catie's roommate (and Matron of Honor), Rhiannon, was a mentor to an exchange student, Jeanne, (also a bridesmaid :,) ), who had befriended Ryan and his group of exchange students from the UK. In the way it goes in college, everyone met everyone and Catie's house became the go-to spot (or the Exchange Student Frat House as we started calling it) for all the students studying abroad. Catie and Ryan mingled in groups and went out to parties and bars together, but didn't get to know each other very well during his time at Carolina.

Fast forward a year. Catie had moved to New York City for her new job; Ryan had returned to the UK, finished up Uni, and was due to start his new job in accounting (because accounting is the logical next career to move for a History major). Catie was changing jobs and had a 2-week break between her end and start dates, so she decided to book the cheapest flight she could find to Europe which happened to be to London. She posted a photo in front of Tower Bridge and Ryan knew this was his chance.... He slid into her Instagram DMs, welcoming her to "the greatest city in the world", and they decided to meet up for a drink in a pub to catch up. 1 pint turned into 5, and they had such a good time that Ryan offered to show her around London the next day. He took her to all the sites in West London, walking 12 miles around the city. Catie was flying home the next day, and the two thought that was the end of it. However, after she got back to the States, they kept messaging periodically every few weeks until one day they just didn't stop talking at all. About 5 months into that talking phase, the pair decided that despite the distance, despite a global pandemic, despite having no plan for the future, they wanted to be together. And the rest is history.

Catie and Ryan managed to meet up during the pandemic in Antigua, one of the only locations both nations were allowed to visit. Catie also took a few trips over to the UK before the US borders opened back up. She applied for her Master's in London and moved over the Pond in 2021. The pair got an apartment a 15-minute walk from where Ryan took Catie on their tour of the city 2 years before. They lived in London for nearly 3 years, Catie working in sustainability conference management after completing her MBA, and Ryan rising in the ranks at his accounting firm after completing his ACA. They traveled all around the UK and Europe; Ryan introduced Catie to pub culture and "proper football" and Catie introduced Ryan to the joys of hiking and adventure-traveling. They moved to Raleigh, North Carolina, in 2024 after Ryan received an international transfer from his employer. Catie landed a job at one of her dream companies and still writes sustainability articles for her previous employer in their (rare) downtime. Their favorite pastimes are still hiking, traveling, watching sports, and visiting breweries. Ryan proposed this past May at one of their favorite beaches to visit on the North Carolina coast. The couple then bought their first home in August, and are so excited to keep adventuring together for the rest of their lives.