Kristin and Jake first crossed paths October of their freshman and senior years at Brown University, respectively. At the time, some might say Kristin wasn't exactly looking for a senior to sweep her off her feet, yet Jake still found himself chasing her for months. He would strategically hang around the volleyball team, invite her (and several of her teammates) to his fraternity formals, and would always ensure she made it back to her dorm room safely after a night out. For months, his charm seemed to have little effect on her—until one day, Kristin finally agreed to their first date. Jake carefully planned their first date: a casual dinner at Harry’s Burger Bar featuring milkshakes and sliders, followed by a series of football drills and a blind wine tasting at the Brown Stadium. They spent the night laughing at Jake’s chosen activities, especially given that he was in an ankle boot at the time. Right away, they both knew how much they would one day mean to each other. After Jake’s graduation in 2019, he continued to live in Providence, determined to stay close to Kristin. But as luck would have it, the COVID-19 pandemic cut their time together short. Kristin and Jake rushed home to be with their families during the initial shutdowns, forcing them into a long-distance relationship much sooner than they anticipated. Over the next 2.5 years, their bond grew even stronger and (most importantly) their Delta miles skyrocketed, taking every chance they could to be together in between Kristin’s volleyball schedule and Jake’s job in Dallas. Following Kristin’s graduation in 2022, they jointly decided to move to Boston and move in together for the first time, even despite some initial hesitation from friends and family! During their first few years in Boston, they blended childhood and college friend groups, found ways to support each other in their careers, and even survived the frigid Boston winters. Throughout it all, Jake had been upfront with Kristin about his long-term intentions, but he knew she needed time. He patiently waited until it was "her idea" to go ring shopping, carefully plotting the perfect proposal in the meantime. Jake proposed to Kristin on December 29, 2024 on a rainy-turned-snowy day in Glenbrook, Lake Tahoe, one of Kristin’s favorite places in the world. Even though Kristin had her suspicions leading up to the proposal, Jake successfully surprised her with several of his family members and Kristin’s family joining the memorable day! After 6.5 years together, Kristin and Jake are tremendously excited to embark on this next chapter in their lives, surrounded by the people they love most, in one of the most beautiful places they could imagine!