Nate thoughtfully planned a full day of meaningful activities. They began with brunch at the restaurant in DC where they had their first date, reflecting about how it all began. Afterward, they spent the afternoon exploring the Museum of Natural History, a place they had often visited early in their relationship. Later, they drove over an hour to Riley’s Lock in Maryland, a spot filled with special memories from their first year together. Every Saturday morning, Nate would train there for the Martha’s Vineyard Marathon while Maria biked alongside him on the river path. Surrounded by those memories, Nate chose this meaningful place to ask Maria to marry him. As she said an emphatic “yes,” Nate’s mom and Maria’s sister, Nicole, joyfully appeared from the bushes, followed by a surprise engagement celebration with both of their families.