Our story begins in August, 2017 at Vanderbilt University at the start of our biomedical research PhD program, where Dylan and I became instant friends after learning we shared research interests. Fast forward to a Christmas party later that semester, my best friend tried to set us up after hearing there was interest on both sides. We talked all during Christmas break, and had our first date on January 11, 2018 where we went to Costco and then dinner. Even though I was too nervous to eat my grilled cheese, we had a great time and talked for hours. The fun dates haven't stopped since!

We got engaged two years later on January 11, 2020. Dylan absolutely blew me away with the amount of detail that went into the best day of my life. He planned an extravagant scavenger hunt all around the city of Nashville, where we visited some of the places that have been important in our relationship over the last two years--Vanderbilt, my first apartment, Costco--and then it ended at a gorgeous park overlooking the skyline of Nashville where he asked me to marry him. One of our best friends was hiding with her camera to capture the moment, and just when I was certain that the day couldn't get better, both families (all the way from Ohio and New Jersey) and all of our Nashville friends were waiting for us at our favorite restaurant to surprise us. It truly was the best day of my life!

Dylan and I both come from different backgrounds, and it was important to us to make sure that both would be incorporated into our wedding. We have decided to have two ceremonies--one in an Orthodox Church and one in a Catholic Church. Our Orthodox wedding will take place on November 8, 2020 in Columbus, Ohio and the marriage will be celebrated by the priest from the church where my family attends. The Catholic ceremony will be a renewal of vows six months later in Nashville, Tennessee on May 15, 2021. We are excited to have the support of our families to accommodate both ceremonies and celebrations!