Hilary and Justin first met in the Fall of 2020 during a soirée hosted by two of their mutual friends, Adam and Tyler. Hilary and Tyler had gone to medical school together, while Justin was starting his surgical residency alongside Adam and Tyler. Along with Tyler's now-husband, Ben, they formed a core group of five that frequented social outings together. Early in their friendship while Hilary was driving Justin to one such outing, Justin now infamously commented that while some people in their position harbor deeper feelings for each other, "we're just friends." Friends and colleagues at the hospital also asked if there was more going on, but they really were just friends! For over a year, they bonded over Marvel movies, frozen yogurt, and simply enjoying one another's company. Then during a calm Spring day in 2022, Justin was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time when struck with Cupid's arrow while hanging lights with Hilary in Adam's backyard (be sure to ask Adam's perspective on this). Soon enough, he mustered up the courage to overturn his prior proclamation by asking Hilary out over a home-cooked dinner, and the rest is history!

For Justin, there was only one reasonable destination to propose to Hilary: the most magical place on Earth, Walt Disney World. His scheme began a year prior starting with a plastic engagement ring given to him by a drunken passerby as him and Hilary strolled Bourbon Street in New Orleans. The man assured Justin this gifted ring would be needed one day. In the months lead up to their third Disney trip together, Justin secured his backup engagement ring and met with Hilary's Dad to secure his blessing, followed by her Mom, and siblings. Justin knew he wanted to propose in Hilary's favorite park, Animal Kingdom. He decided October 1st would be the day, no matter what. However, when this park day arrived, so did the notorious Orlando rain showers. While Justin suggested having their photos taken multiple times throughout the morning, Hilary repeatedly declined saying they could get pictures another time on the trip when it wasn't raining and they weren't soaked. Justin obsessively refreshed the weather forecast, hopeful for a break in the rain. For hours, the rain continued and Justin was losing hope. Suddenly, the rain abated and there was only an hour left before the park would close! Justin nervously hurried the two of them back to Animal Kingdom under the guise of riding their favorite rollercoaster, Expedition Everest. The skies cleared and Golden Hour was upon them. Justin was stressing seeing that many Disney photographers were already gone. Thankfully, he was not faced with riding a rollercoaster with an engagement ring in his pocket when they found a photographer with Expedition Everest set in the background. Heart pounding, Justin knew what he needed to do. He whispered his plans to the photographer and, as they posed, he got down onto one knee to propose with the original plastic engagement ring from New Orleans. Hilary was speechless and joyously said yes! Woohoo! Now, we're so excited to invite you to this celebration of our love!