I met Ben, a good friend of my brother's, at a few events before, but our paths began to intertwine after a wedding trip for my brother and his wonderful wife. My first impression of Ben was a mix of curiosity and slight annoyance, as he bluntly declined trying a uniquely odd-tasting mozzarella stick from Wawa that I was convinced he needed to experience! (He claims he was flirting). Despite that rocky start, I found myself drawn to his sense of humor throughout the trip. Months later, he reached out, and we grew closer through endless texts and, most uniquely, by playing my favorite game, Animal Crossing, together remotely. Ben even went the extra mile, buying an entire game system just so we could play together, which was incredibly sweet. Our first date was a wonderfully spontaneous and perfectly "us" kind of day. It kicked off at Sushi Bomb, where Ben's spot-on recommendations quickly turned me from a sushi novice into a convert! We then took a fun stroll through Ikea, playfully critiquing decor styles. The date wrapped up with a trip to my favorite ice cream spot, Kip's, for my beloved "Chubby Puppy." Later that night, our binge-watching tradition began with Ratatouille and The Mandalorian. It all felt so right, comfortable, and like coming home. From there, our shared world just kept expanding. We're both obsessed with games, animals, fitness, music, great food, coffee, and Star Wars – truly, the list of common interests is endless! Our home is now also filled with the purrfect energy of our two beloved cats: Luca, my suave, sophisticated, and very talkative gentleman who knows exactly what he wants, and Dunkin, the spunky, golden-retriever-energy baby kitty we adopted together. Then came the proposal – a whirlwind Disney World adventure worthy of its own movie! We planned a family trip to my (Haley's) favorite place, only to inadvertently schedule it during a literal hurricane. Ben had an elaborate series of magical proposal options planned, each more enchanting than the last: from a romantic dinner inside Cinderella's Castle (menu change, strike one!) to a private pontoon boat fireworks cruise over Epcot's World Showcase, with each country's pavilion glowing against the night sky (cancelled by the storm, strike two!) and even a dessert party with front-row castle fireworks at Magic Kingdom (also cancelled by the hurricane, strike three!). I had even brought a sparkly white dress in case, as I had a feeling he might propose. By the second-to-last day, I figured it wasn't happening, so I opted for sweatpants given the chilly, rainy weather. Little did I know, Ben had been stealthily carrying the ring around the parks, dodging security checkpoints! His final, spontaneous plan unfolded in the breathtaking France pavilion in Epcot. As dusk settled, the pavilion transformed into a magical scene, mirroring a Parisian evening. After riding Remy's Ratatouille Adventure, we found ourselves strolling through the gorgeous, illuminated streets, where the soft glow of streetlights danced on cobblestones and romantic French music drifted through the air. We paused at the magnificent fountain – a spot where a Disney photographer was stationed. As I, completely oblivious, posed for a picture, Ben surprised me completely, dropping to one knee right there! And yes, I was in sweatpants, not the sparkly dress. Of course, I said YES! We celebrated by finally watching Epcot's Illuminations fireworks show (the one that had been canceled!) and later indulged in a celebratory sundae at our hotel. The next day was spent soaking in our newly engaged bliss, complete with bride ears and "Happily Ever After" pins. The perfect ending? Not quite! On our flight home, we discovered our engagement kiss had also come with a shared case of COVID! It's been an adventure from the very beginning, and we can't wait for our next grand adventure – getting to say "I do" and celebrate with all of you on December 6, 2025!