Days after graduating from the University of Richmond, Katy flew out to Texas to be a first-grade teacher with Teach for America. She had grand visions of impacting the education system in a meaningful way, and did not know that the next two years would be the hardest of her life. Meanwhile, Brendan was enjoying a last hoorah with college friends and preparing for his own move to Dallas, where he'd been offered a job in consulting. Given his surprise that a firm of any stature was prepared to pay him actual money, he accepted the position after little deliberation. It was within Brendan's first few days in Dallas that he met Katy through mutual friends, at a pregame. A spark was ignited, a potential recognized. Twenty-four hours later, both Brendan and Katy ended things with their respective significant others. Their first formal date was a few days later at The Rustic. From there, the rest is history...

After two years in Dallas and three in San Francisco, Katy and Brendan decided it was time to move back east to be closer to family. Shortly after the move, Brendan began planning the proposal. There were several obstacles -- a long list of personal calendars to juggle, a suspect weather forecast, an inoperable boat, etc. etc. -- but thanks to the teamwork of Haley and Barbara, the mission was a success. On Thursday, August 19th, the couple walked to the dock in Noroton Bay to "take the boat to dinner", and halfway down the pier, Brendan got down on one knee. A dumb joke about the ring's lack of insurance coverage, a pronouncement of his love for her, and then the question. Katy was completely surprised, and then, very happy.