(to be read in the voice of Amanda) Our love story starts similar to many —— a dating app! We met the way most new couples do… with an awkward starting conversation. The Hinge dating app allows a person to choose questions for prospecting dates to answer. One of my questions was “what is your ideal first date?” Me, thinking this was an amazing way to get to know the things some guys were interested in, Ethan then replies with “actually, I prefer figs.” It took me a second to figure it out and I, as all of you probably can picture, rolled my eyes and thought this kid was a dope. So, I guess that meant I should go out with him? Our first date was in April in Pentagon Row near my old apartment. We met in front of the mall and went to get tea at Starbucks and went for a walk and talked. Hours passed and we talked about so many things from our biggest dreams, favorite candy, and whether a hot dog is a sandwich (this topic is NOT welcomed at the wedding haha). Ethan and I knew there was an immediate connection and at the end of the night he walked me to my apartment complex and gave me a goodnight kiss. Very soon after we saw each other again and again, and the rest is history! It has been over three years of wonderful memories and adventures, and we cannot wait to get started on forever together, as husband and wife.

(to be read in the voice of Ethan) We are so thrilled to tell you about it, as we both thoroughly enjoyed it! What started as a seemingly typical experience, the stars really aligned in this one. Sandra Bullock was superb and funny, and Ryan Reynolds…well Ryan Reynolds was just doing Ryan Reynolds things…amirite 😉.… Oh, our proposal. Ah… misunderstood the assignment. With the help of many friends and family, I had this one planned for several months. As you know, I am the planner in this relationship. Wanted to get everything set up flawlessly, because I love this woman. Unimaginably love this woman; she is the light of my life. I needed to find the picturesque place for the special day. “Found it!”, I bellowed, as I locked in on the location following my MANY google searches. It was a waterfall 15 minutes northwest of Ithaca, NY. A strong and serene waterfall, hidden in the lush central New York deciduous trees. It had a whimsical and wonderful mist peering through the alcove as you walk through the end of the trail to get to it. I had contacted a local NY photographer months in advance to be the stealth snapper of our greatest day; to blend into the surroundings like a jaguar in the brush. Waiting for the right moments as we arrived. Picking the day was the easiest part. November 11th. Ever since Amanda and I started dating, we had this inside joke about 11:11, and making a wish. Since we began, I only had one wish. To marry her. It then turned in to who can text 11:11 the fastest when the clock struck the time. It is much like when children say something at the same time, and you exclaim “JINX, buy me coke”. Something about it is beautifully innocent. But it connects us. The day is finally here. November 11th. I had planned a day in Syracuse to see her college, Le Moyne, with the intent of trying to play off this day as any other day. Plot twist…she knew. “She knew?”, you say sarcastically, even though we all knew she knew… My heart was pounding. All day. The type of pounding where you think your heart is going to pound out of your chest, and your skin becomes convex around it. But I had to play it cool. Thankfully, the falls were 15 minutes away from where we parked. I could walk and let the brisk air calm me as I knew the most important day of my life was mere footsteps away. We reach the falls. I make eye contact with the photographer, and we both give a slight nod to each. It is go time. Side bar – it is so oddly instinctual that two people who do not know each other, who have never met, can almost automatically be in sync and understand the assignment of a crucial life moment. Fight or flight, but in this case, it was propose and pose. We get to the end of the walkway; the falls are behind us. I give a wonderful speech (I think I did, but for the sake of this story, let us just say I did), and get down on one knee. She says yes…then maybe..then yes again. I put the ring gently on her finger, and thank God it fit. I was having inner panic attacks for 3 days worried it was too small. We pose for the camera for several shots following, and what a perfect day it was. Another plot twist, our camerawoman almost fell down a cliff. That would have been awkward… Best day of my life. .. p.s. for now; that’ll be taken over 9/30/2023