We're getting married!

After crossing paths over the years through work, music, and friends, it was a Ben Folds concert at The Jefferson Theater that finally brought Ida and Brian together. Sparks flew and Brian asked Ida for her number at the end of the show. He didn't wait long to ask her out and, about an hour later, sent her a text. They met each other at Firefly, a restaurant in Charlottesville, for their first date. Both of them were surprised to find out they would continue seeing each other once, twice, and sometimes three times a week from that point on.

After a romantic night of fireworks and hot dogs with friends, Ida and Brian ended the night at Fellini's Restaurant to watch live jazz. It was there that they decided it was time to admit that they were a couple. The whirlwind of feelings and romance of the summer were beyond what they both expected. They celebrate July 4th every year because of that special moment when Brian said to Ida, "I think it's time I started calling you my girlfriend."

Brian was the first one to say "I love you" over Labor Day Weekend at Ida's college friends Kara and Tim Sweeney's river house in Callao on Virginia's Northern Neck. Ida, of course, said it back.

A little over a year after they started dating, Ida and Brian moved in together with their three cats, Beezus, Henry, and Toby. They have made a cozy home and enjoy cooking, playing games and music, and entertaining friends and family.

Brian proposed to Ida at home the night before New Year's Eve while she was sitting on the couch clipping her fingernails. She turned to ask Brian for the Dustbuster only to find him on one knee with his hands behind his back. (She still wasn't expecting a proposal because Brian had already gotten down on one knee a few times that day only to ask her things like, "Ida...Will you...hand me the remote?") But, this time, the question ended with "Will you...marry me?" and a beautiful rose gold engagement ring from MiaDonna, a company committed to freeing children from unethical diamond mining. It was a perfect moment and they toasted the night with sparkling wine, Chinese food delivery, On Demand movies, and domestic bliss!