We're getting married!

Betsy and Brad met in the summer of 2021. Betsy and Kate Ferster, Betsy's engineering bestie from Penn State/Brad's ultra-competitive beach volleyball teammate, were at a wedding in Texas when Kate sent a photo of Betsy to Brad. Brad immediately responded with "Who is that smokeshow!?" On a visit to "see Kate" in Baltimore, Betsy met Brad over beers at a local bar in Fells Point, though Brad *almost* didn't show up after a full day in the sun cheering on the Orioles. They spent the next day playing volleyball and hanging out - Brad trying his best to impress Betsy with his volleyball and conversational skills and Betsy trying her best not to embarrass herself playing a new sport for the first time. Brad's Dad, Will, happened to be in town and joined the volleyball crew for lunch. Not knowing Brad and Betsy had been set up by Kate, he turned to Brad after the lunch, saying "That Betsy girl was so cute and fun, you should try and get to know her!" A week later, Brad took Betsy out to dinner at a local restaurant, Bondhouse, followed by Baltimore's infamous pirate themed cruise ship around the harbor. Once she saw Brad's dance skills in the pirate conga line, Betsy was *hooked*.

Brad and Betsy took their first trip together in the summer of 2021 to the family house in Lake Tahoe. Tahoe quickly became a special place for their relationship, from skiing in the winter to hiking and paddleboarding in the summer to trying to win back their flight cost at the Crystal Bay Casino. On August 13th, 2023, during one of these trips, they returned to the first trail they hiked together--Monkey Rock--and hiked to its peak. Betsy had no idea a proposal was coming - until she scrambled to the highest point for the best view of the lake, a spot impossible for a proposal. Brad suspiciously asked Betsy to come back to the ground before getting down on one knee to propose. With two beers packed to help celebrate, they sat at the top savoring the moment just the two of them, kept company by an orange butterfly and an occasional group of visiting hikers who helped take a couple of pictures.