We first met at Indiana University of Pennsylvania in the fall of 2018. Our paths crossed like most do in college… at a local bar. Austin was wearing a Pittsburgh Penguins hat, and we quickly bonded over our love of ice hockey while drinking $5 Long Island iced teas— a Culps special. We also talked about our hatred for each other’s teams (Penguins vs Flyers). However, we were able to put our differences aside and one of our first dates was at a Pittsburgh Penguins game. From that moment, we knew something special was unfolding. Our shared experiences and adventures during college laid the foundation for the beautiful journey we’re on today.

The proposal was a beautiful surprise that took place on a warm spring evening in the quaint town of Lambertville, New Jersey. Caitlyn’s family played along, telling her they were meeting for dinner to celebrate her mother’s birthday. Before our dinner reservation, we took a scenic walk along the Delaware River canal path. When we stopped to take a family picture, Austin got down on one knee and asked Caitlyn to marry him. She was totally surprised, but without hesitation, she smiled and said “yes!”. We spent the evening celebrating over dinner and topped off the night with ice cream at one of our favorite spots. It was a sweet ending to an evening that marked the beginning of our forever together.