Our love story began on the sandy shores of Holden Beach, North Carolina. Austin's step-sister, Ashley, invited Emily to join their family vacation, setting the stage for something magical. We spent those days side by side, discovering each other's competitive spirit and sharing in our silly sense of humor. Something just clicked — easy, effortless, and unforgettable. It didn’t take long for us to realize that this was only the beginning of a much bigger adventure. Within two weeks, Austin was visiting Emily in D.C., and the city quickly became the backdrop to our story. We joke that we never really did "long-distance," since we could never seem to spend much time apart. By the start of the new year, Austin had officially made the move to Arlington, and together, we began turning a house into a home. Building a life together, we’ve embraced the joys of sharing a home — figuring out whose turn it is to cook, learning (and loving) each other’s quirks, and laughing through all the small, everyday moments we never take for granted. Now, we can’t wait to take the next step, hand in hand, and celebrate the start of forever with the people we love most.