Joshua and Angela first met each other while in graduate school at Texas A&M University. They spent many years building a friendship working together in the backcountry of Alaska, taking graduate courses together, and sharing Tuesday evening beers with their mutual friends at Carney's Pub. After several years of friendship, they both realized they wanted to be more than friends. Four years later, they still really like each other and decided they wanted to hang out with each other for the rest of forever.
Joshua planned a day as Angela's personal tour guide during her first-ever visit to New Orleans for a wedding (Groomsman Jeremy Murray's wedding!). They spent the day exploring the city and in the afternoon Joshua planned a trip to Audubon Park to walk around and enjoy being outside. After walking around a bit, Joshua suggested they sit on a park bench to look at some ducks in the park fountains and ponds. Angela thought ducks were cool but wondered why Josh wasstalling drinks and dinner. Josh kept moving Angela from one park bench to another park bench to see different ducks (the real reason was to get some privacy, of which Audubon Park was not providing). Angela really wanted to leave to go get dinner but was doing her best to be excited about having a nature moment with Josh and his ducks. Just when Angela was beginning to think something was up, Josh got down on one knee and pulled out a tiny box with his grandmother's ring in it. At this moment, Angela realized (much much later than she should have) that Josh was proposing! After lots of ugly-crying that probably alarmed many onlookers, Angela was able to say "yes!", and the rest is history.