we're getting married!

On Leap Day, February 29, 2020, Claire and Cole met for the very first time—as blind dates at a college house dance. Without ever meeting her, Cole asked Claire to be his date. She agreed but warned she’d be late as she had a track meet, even suggesting he might prefer to take someone else. Cole declined, and true to her word, Claire arrived straight from the track bus to the dance, where they finally met face-to-face—and instantly hit it off.

While traveling through Europe, Cole proposed to Claire in the enchanting French town of Èze. He had arranged dinner atop a château, and they arrived early to wander through its gardens. As they strolled, overlooking the water, Cole began sharing how grateful he was that they had met and how lucky he felt to have her. Claire, thinking he was simply being his usual sweet self, kissed him on the cheek and said, “Aw, I'm lucky to have you too.” It wasn’t until he kept speaking, dropped to one knee, and asked the question that it all clicked.