8.10.24

Our story began on an unusually warm February night in Oxford, Ohio. Britt and Austin had just returned to campus for their final semesters at Miami University. Despite both studying in the business school, the two hadn’t crossed paths much at all in their four years there. The one encounter being a brief interaction a few months earlier when Britt borrowed a jersey from their next-door neighbor's house, and Austin was asked by his friend Brady to get the LeBron jersey he had and share it with her. On the night of February 7th, 2017, Austin returned from a fraternity event with friends and headed to a long-awaited pregame invite to join the cute, fun looking girls who had lived next to them for a semester. From Britt's perspective, Austin was the quiet guy who didn't pay her much attention, which piqued her interest. From Austin's perspective, this was his chance to finally hang out with the girl he had inquired to his friend Brady about months ago during their brief encounter (he might have even looked her up on Instagram). They all headed up the hill from the house they were pregaming at to Brick Street Bar and Grill. Here, conflicting stories emerge, and the fact that they were going to a bar on a Tuesday night at midnight indicates we'll never truly know what happened... At the bar, Austin claims he invited Britt to join him for another drink, while Britt asserts she suggested it to him as well. Regardless, they did meet up, igniting a semester where they were inseparable, cherishing the present and avoiding the looming realities post graduation. Following graduation, reality set in and the two moved to different places—Britt to Chicago, Austin to Columbus. After months of staying in touch and several trips to Chicago, they decided to date long distance. Eventually, they realized they couldn't be without each other, and Austin moved to Chicago in the summer of 2018. Five years of adventures together in Chicago went by, and we arrive to March 2023. Austin's mom informed them that she was visiting his sister, Amanda, who lived in Spain, and asked if they wanted to join. Of course, they were in and packed their bags. For those who know her well, Britt is someone who keeps her family and friends closer than maybe anyone else in the world. Although Austin was instructed by Britt to share any proposal plans with her parents and close friends, he knew he couldn't keep the plans hidden due to daily phone calls she has with them... So, he went rogue and kept the proposal a secret, not telling a soul of his timing and plans (please note that he had asked her parents for permission a month prior ;) ). On March 8th, Austin walked around the gardens in Seville, Spain, with Britt, his sister, and mom. He quite abnormally kept asking to take pictures throughout the walk, and Britt caught on that something was up but played along. With a bit of rain and more tourists around than he had anticipated for his planned moment, Austin nervously waited for the right time. Britt wisely suggested they all grab a drink in the park, and luckily, the sun began to shine and they entered a tourist free spot. Seizing the opportunity, Austin asked for one more picture, then got down on one knee and asked Britt if she would spend the rest of her life with him. She said yes and immediately began FaceTiming all the very surprised friends and family – especially with it being the early hours of the morning back in the US! Austin & Britt thank you all for coming together to celebrate the culmination of a journey from that warm night in February 2017, and it means the world to be able to share it with those that mean the world to them. Cheers, with love!