Our first date was to a local restaurant in Pittsburgh, PA. We sat there for four hours chit-chatting over nothing but an order of buffalo chicken dip and an interest in each other. We felt an ease and comfort in our conversation and each other. That's not to say there weren't a few nerves. Sam couldn't stop fiddling with his watch until it broke off his wrist and fell to the floor. Hanna swiftly pieced it back together, good as new. Conversation only broke when the waitress informed us that it was closing time. When the check arrived, we both reached. Sam was adamant that he would pay, so much so, that he left his credit card on the table to pay when he stepped away to use the bathroom. Not realizing he had left his credit card with a complete stranger, who, if she had not enjoyed the last four hours as much as she had, could have disappeared without a trace. Inside, he knew she would be there. And she was. And always has been ever since.

Technically, our first decision was to swipe right, but this next one is more us. On our first date, we ordered buffalo chicken dip, and were unexpectedly prompted by the waitress to decide between pita bread or tortilla chips. Not wanting to choose against the other's preference, we requested both. We wanted to ensure the other would be happy. We have been keeping that up ever since!

On our third date, Hanna & Sam went to Pittsburgh's annual 'Light Up Night'. On street corners, vendors were handing out light-up wands, necklaces, glasses, and rings. Sam stashed one of these rings in his pocket, knowing it might come in handy for a grand gesture later. In an elevator on our way up to watch the fireworks from a rooftop, Sam dropped to a knee, half-joking, but also sincere, and proposed to Hanna with a light-up ring. Shocked, Hanna did not answer, but things seem to be going pretty well nevertheless. Both of us knew this wouldn't be our last proposal.

Sam's Proposal (our "Official Proposal" in the traditional sense) began when Sam heard our song play at the lake by a summer-night fire. As we swayed, he knew it was time to propose spending our lives together. Shortly after, Sam acquired the engagement ring and began brainstorming how to pop the question. Near Thanksgiving seemed to be the perfect time: filled with family and an opportunity to seek a blessing from Hanna’s parents (which they gave enthusiastically). In between family gatherings, we planned to go to Hawk Mountain for a hike (and Sam planned to pop the question here). Minutes before embarking, we realized the trail was closed for deer season (thanks, PA). Sam needed a new plan and there was one time constraint: Sam had shown the ring to Hanna's grandmother and let the secret slip that he was proposing today! Now even more nervous, Sam was frantically searching for a back-up plan. He had heard of a "scenic overlook" along the route, which he thought could be a contender (the one by the Meredith Street Exit in Carbondale, for those familiar). It was far less scenic than advertised. Standing there, Sam thought for a second, took a deep breath, and decided to move on. He knew it would not have mattered if he proposed along the highway, as the answer would have been the same, but that is not how we would have wanted that memory. Now, Sam needed to buy some time as he thought of the back-up-back-up plan, so we stopped for coffee. It was a shop we had never been to before, but there was something about it that felt like home. Sam had still been holding the ring in his pocket through all this, though Hanna never noticed. When we left, Sam had an idea, ‘The Pines’, a cozy trail in his hometown, that would be a quiet and beautiful backdrop to our soon-to-be cherished memory. When we arrived, Sam took an extra second to collect his nerves before getting out of the car (a deep breath to which Hanna asked “Is everything okay?”). Hanna took Sam's hand, noting how clammy it was, and began to walk. Along our walk we saw a family of deer (a safe distance from Hawk Mountain, just to note). They were so close to the trail, not afraid, not nervous, and all of a sudden, neither was Sam. He sneakily reached into his pocket, began recording our voices on his phone, got on his knee, pulled out the ring, and popped the question! Hanna began crying happy tears, before ever answering, but we took that as a "Yes!". Hanna’s favorite moment was the time immediately after when it was just our news to hold together. Hanna called her grandmother who answered with an “I knowwww”.

Hanna knew that when Sam proposed to her, that she would want to propose to him too. Sam picked out a watch that reminds him of Lancaster, Elvis, and a silly date at the National Watch and Clock Museum. The size of the box was comically large compared to the watch itself. How was Hanna meant to hide this?? She began planning her proposal to Sam. An easy ruse was to take a walk along the Susquehanna river. We had been meaning to revisit and Hanna found a pretty destination along the river that would be perfect! We started our walk in Marietta, PA. Things did not quite go to plan. Parts of the trail were flooded. With each gully of flooded trail, we cared less and less about keeping our shoes dry, to the point where we just walked through the ankle-deep water. Our feet were soaked, and Hanna checked the GPS to see how much farther until the intended destination. Too far for wet feet. Now looking for her own back-up plan for a scenic proposal, Hanna walked along with hope that the trail would present an obvious spot. Soon there was an opening in the trees that had been blocking the view of the water and a bench to rest and watch the river. Hanna started her proposal with the same words that Sam did - a note about how things don't always go to plan, but one plan for certain is to spend our lives together. Sam said yes.