It was our first day at Loyola University Maryland. After getting acquainted with our new roommates and settling into our dorm rooms in Butler Hall, a mutual friend -- and future Matron of Honor! -- invited Gina to come to Connor's room to enjoy some adult beverages before heading out for the first official night of college. A close friendship soon developed and we spent freshmen and sophomore years enjoying all of the pleasures that York Road had to offer (mainly, cheap beer, Roma's Pizza and many soul-searching conversations on the deck at Craig's). They say absence makes the heart grow fonder, and we learned that firsthand during our junior year. After spending an entire year apart (Gina studied in Spain during the fall semester and Connor studied in Copenhagen during the spring), we realized that our friendship had turned into something much stronger. We made it official as soon as we were reunited in the summer of 2011.

Connor invited Gina to go for a stroll in her favorite place -- Central Park. Despite the summer crowds, we stumbled upon a private area overlooking the lake. When it was just the two of us, Connor got down on one knee and popped the question! The celebrations only continued from there. We spent the rest of the afternoon calling our loved ones to share the exciting news, had a romantic dinner downtown, and then went out to brunch with our families the next day.