We're Getting Married!

Six or Seven years ago (depending on who you ask), Andrea and Ryan met in the Gregory Gymnasium at the University of Texas during a Halloween party. Ryan saw Andrea in a cute bunny costume and it was right then he knew he wanted to meet her. Little did Ryan know, Andrea felt the same way about Ryan in his dapper coral button-down. The scariest part of the evening for Ryan was not the haunted house, but rather the prospect of talking to Andrea. Ryan did the only thing he knew how - indicate his interest by being a gentleman and following Andrea throughout the haunted house and fending off terrifying zombies, vampires and men with chainsaws! Andrea and Ryan survived the haunted house, their connection unmistakable. As Ryan had been more afraid asking Andrea for her number than fending off zombies, it was to his excitement when Andrea found him on Facebook the next day and sent him a friend request. He of course accepted her request. By late April, Ryan had asked Andrea to be his girlfriend in the most questionably romantic spot - the Brazos parking garage on campus. Little did they know, that would be the summer they fell in love and that love would eventually turn into an engagement.

A few weeks before Christmas, Andrea questioned why she and Ryan had not looked at rings together. Ryan explained work had been extremely busy, but in reality he was already searching for the perfect ring. A couple weeks later he found the one, but it wouldn't be ready until the 21st - just one day before he would propose to Andrea. Now that the ring would be ready in time for the proposal, Ryan had another urgent matter with less than a week to the proposal: receive Andrea's parents' blessing. Although Ryan called her parents on Monday, Andrea's father requested Ryan's presence at their home in Bellevue, Texas - a 6 hour drive from Houston. This worried Ryan because he and Andrea had plans to attend his office's Christmas party Tuesday evening. So, on Tuesday, Ryan hopped on Southwest Flight 6 at 7:30 a.m. from Hobby Airport to Dallas Love Field and drove the rest of the way to Bellevue. Within 40 minutes, Andrea's parents gave Ryan their blessing, and about as soon as he had arrived, he left. Even as Ryan drove to Love Field, the terrible downpour couldn't rain on his parade. He was on-schedule to arrive in time for the Christmas party. Or so he thought...Flight 41 to Houston was cancelled. Ryan called Andrea in the terminal with the only believable lie - his grandfather was in the hospital. By Friday, Andrea and Ryan arrived in Austin for their supposed ring appointment. Instead of the jeweler, they went to the University of Texas where their story began. Ryan and Andrea walked to the fountain where Ryan pointed to the UT Tower. When Andrea looked away, he got down on one knee and to Andrea's excitement and surprise, he proposed. Needless to say, she said "yes" and couldn't wait to begin planning a wedding to celebrate their 7 year courtship! With their history being so intertwined with The University of Texas and Austin, it only seemed right the wedding be held here as well so the couple could share these special memories and location with their guests.