After ten years, the adventure truly begins!

In early Fall of 2011, through a mutual friend, our paths crossed by accident. After many conversations, we had our first date. Given Travis’ confidence, in addition to being a gentleman from the very first date, I knew he was someone special. We started officially dating in November of 2011. I moved to Baltimore, Maryland for both my undergraduate and graduate degrees. Our relationship, being mostly long distance, consisted of many weekend visits filled with 2.5 hour car rides, Loyola functions, Baltimore eateries, city adventures, all with old and new friends. After 7 years of long distance, 6 years of school, and 1 year of working, we finally were reunited back in Pennsylvania in August of 2019.

After finally being reunited in the same state and moving in together, we talked about taking the next step. For all that know Travis, he played it off very well and acted like a proposal would be in the far future and not any time soon. I said I would love to have family and friends around, and boy, did Travis deliver. The Friel Family hosts an annual Christmas Party where there is family from all over. Each year, Santa comes and brings the children an early gift. Some parents find it amusing to give the adult children a gift and have them sit on Santa’s lap, and my mom was no different. When I went up and got my gift, as I turned around, Travis was on one knee asking me to spend the rest of my life with him. Of course I said yes! Now almost 10 years later, a dog, a ring, and a house, we are ready to make it official and become husband and wife in September of 2022!