Our story began Memorial Day weekend in Myrtle Beach, SC. Joe's View: On a night with friends, I noticed Lauren wearing a birthday sash, glowing with joy and energy. She immediately caught my eye, and when our paths crossed later that evening, we danced, laughed, and connected in a way that felt effortless. Over the next few days at the beach, I fell for her personality and the light she brought into every moment. When the weekend ended, I knew I wanted more. Learning she lived in Raleigh only confirmed it-she was worth every mile, and I happily made the drive. Lauren's View: Joe and I met by pure chance, the kind of chance that feels ordinary at first and then later makes you think, oh... that was fate. Early on, Joe showed exactly the kind of person he is thoughtful, protective, and maybe a little smooth. Like the time he saved my underage friend from feeling left out by ordering her a very convincing "gin and tonic" ... also known as a Sprite with a lime. From that moment on, I knew he was special. What followed were a few whirlwind weeks of stolen time together in each other's home cities, squeezing in every moment we could while he was home from work. As our relationship grew, life didn't exactly go easy on us, but it did teach us how to love each other more. We learned how to show up in the ways that mattered most: Joe cheering me on and supporting me through school, me being an open ear when he was overseas and needing someone to vent to and holding each other close through loss. Through every obstacle, every challenge, and every mile between us, we learned that distance, physical or otherwise, never stood a chance. Now: After nine years of being together Joe proposed on a trip to Ireland, it was perfect in every form of the word. Even though he was extremely nervous and may have got the ring box stuck in his jacket, we avoided the rain, got to take in a beautiful Ireland sunset, on a private cliff. We hope to create many more meaningful moments, our wedding being the next we get to share with our friends, families and loved ones.