we're getting married!

On Leap Day—February 29, 2020—Claire and Cole met for the first time as blind dates for a college house dance. Cole asked her to go even though they’d never met, and Claire said yes but let him know she’d be late because of a track meet, even offering him the chance to pick someone else. He didn’t. So Claire came straight from the track bus, walked into the dance, and finally met Cole face‑to‑face—where they hit it off instantly.

While traveling through Europe, Cole proposed to Claire in the hilltop village of Èze, France. He’d planned a dinner atop a château, and they arrived early to wander through its gardens. As they walked, looking out over the water, Cole started telling Claire how grateful he was that they’d met and how lucky he felt. Claire—assuming he was just being his usual sweet self—kissed his cheek and said, “Aw, I’m lucky to have you too.” It wasn’t until he kept talking, dropped to one knee, and asked the question that she realized what was actually happening. She said yes.