We’re getting married!!

Josh and I met in August of 2016 during my orientation week of pharmacy school- he was a senior (P4) and I was a freshman (P1). Our first "date" was at Roma's (our favorite pizza place) in Winchester along the walking mall. To this day, we enjoy going there when we come back to visit & always order their breakfast za. Over the next year we remained friends and then Josh graduated and moved down to Virginia Beach with Rite Aid Pharmacy. We began dating the fall of my P2 year and remained long distance until my P4 year when I moved to Virginia Beach to complete my clinical rotations. Just like any couple we faced quite a few challenges along the way, but it shaped us into the couple we are today. Hopefully some of those experiences will help to begin to prepare us for the ups and downs of marriage! In the years in between we dated from 200 miles away, (aka a four hour drive if you were lucky & didn’t hit traffic) but made weekend trips to see each other, with Ollie in tow, of course. Some of our favorite memories include our annual fall trip to Charlottesville, filled with winery and brewery hopping with friends, beautiful fall foliage and mountain views. Josh also took me to his childhood family vacation spot in Hilton Head, SC and his family jokes that “I wouldn't have made the cut if I didn't like it there." Somehow I’m lucky enough to say that our two favorite vacation places hold a special place in our hearts— Hilton Head/Savannah (where we got engaged) & Charlottesville (where we are getting married)! We love traveling together and look forward to all of the fun (and usually quite eventful) memories to come!

I would say the day started like any other, but it didn't. As we were driving over to Wormsloe I remember saying "I'm so glad I'm not at work today." It was our first full day of vacation and my first week off as a "working woman." Josh knew how much I loved Wormsloe the first time we went (2019), so he had agreed to let me *attempt to* take our pictures on the property during this trip. We got there right as they were opening since we wanted to beat the Georgia heat. I had my tripod ready, photo timer app set & our outfits coordinating. Josh and I walked down the iconic driveway as I looked for the perfect lighting, but he said he had already looked it up. According to Reddit the best lighting was "by the white fence"-- Josh looking on Reddit, very believable I thought (we all know how gullible I am). . . Now this is where it all gets a bit foggy & I swear it's like I blacked out during his proposal. I had turned around after getting the tripod set and there Josh was, down on one knee asking me to marry him. My eyes were filled with tears and my hand was shaking. I remember Josh using my full name as he was down on one knee with the ring box flipped upside down- I'd never seen him so nervous! Little did I know there was a photographer capturing every second of this moment (by the white fence that the photographer told Josh to go to). To this day I still can't believe how Josh pulled off a proposal 509 miles away from home, not to mention with a photographer. I truly couldn't imagine a more special day. We were then able to spend the rest of the week in Hilton Head living in engagement bliss. . . Just kidding- we all know I started wedding planning the next day!!