We’re so excited to get married!

December 2021: Patrick and Elizabeth have visited each other’s families in Virginia and Florida multiple times, and each family considers their future in-laws to already be family. On this most recent trip to Florida over Christmas, Patrick and Elizabeth were both eager to bring the family’s boat out on Lake Conway, the lake where Patrick and his family grew up on. They also brought Noli, their chocolate lab. Elizabeth thought it was a little odd that Patrick didn’t want to go on the lake until late afternoon, but thought nothing more of it. As the sun was setting on the lake, Patrick hooked a bass, reeled it in, and set it free. Patrick kept encouraging Elizabeth to try and cast from the front of the boat where there’s a larger surface area to stand on. Just a couple minutes after, Elizabeth hooked her own bass, reeled it in; Patrick freed the fish and sent it back swimming. Elizabeth, all giddy that she had caught her first fish of the day, was fidgeting with the rod when Patrick said, “Hey Elizabeth, can I ask you something?” With her fishing rod still in one hand, Patrick got down on one knee and proposed just as the sun was setting, with the sky full of beautiful oranges and pinks. Happy tears flowed. Noli, the chocolate lab, thought all of the excitement was about her! Patrick’s family had known he was going to propose on that boat trip, so his mom and sister met the happy couple on the dock to take pictures when they got back.