Maria and Dustin first met as bright-eyed and bushy-tailed high-schoolers near the end of the 20th century. Winds of time whispered on, the centuries changed, and Spartans became Blue Hens. Striving to retain conviction and searching for elusive goals*, the two crossed paths on occasion as students at the University of Delaware as well as in Dewey Beach. Yet fate will sometimes lock its keys in the car before finding the spare set to reopen the door, and thus our wayfaring heroes were destined to drift among the endless stars until fate's fickle hour struck midnight. Like an oasis in the desert, Maria and Dustin reconnected (re-upping as they call it) at the Queen Theater in Wilmington, Delaware on October 17, 2015. A classic case of the suave musician-meets-radiantly-beautiful server, the two exchanged numbers, and the rest is history. *Excerpted from "Winds of Time Whisper On", the St. Marks Spartans classic school song

Dustin surprised Maria with a 'day of fun'. It began with a hike through White Clay Creek State Park to the Arc Corner Monument. Though they know now it is visible from the road, the Arc was an elusive landmark they got lost trying to find once before, and were determined to go back for! Next, the two explored the Newark Reservoir and later the Delaware Art Museum in Wilmington. After the museum, Dustin took Maria to the Rockford Tower where he got down on one knee and asked Maria to be his bride! Dustin's friend Devin and his wife Rachael (hidden photographers capturing the event) were hiding behind a tree at a distance. They revealed themselves with hoots and hollers, and brought (and popped!) bottles of champagne to celebrate!