Emily had recently moved to DC from Nashville and stumbled across Jim, a DMV local. A first date was set: March 14th, 2016 at the bar at Bourbon Steak in Georgetown. After having a little trouble finding Jim (he had made some new friends at the bar), the two tucked into a private table and chatted the night away. The first date was a success (duh, Jim planned it) and subsequent dates involved introducing Emily to her new city. Drinks at Fainting Goat on DC's popular U St. and getting rink-side to watch (but not cheer on) the hometown Washington Capitals as they took on Jim's Philadelphia Flyers. In the blink of an eye, that courtship flourished into a five year relationship with countless laughs, adventures, trips across the globe, and a proposal.

What was described to Emily as just another easy weekend out of the city, would end up being anything but. Early in the afternoon on Nov. 5th, they left DC and headed to the Little Washington Winery before continuing on to the Inn at Little Washington. The two enjoyed a classic afternoon high tea (Emily loves tea) and were given a tour of the Inn and the grounds after checking in to their private accommodations, The Mayor's House. With the engagement ring burning a hole in Jim's pocket all day, he asked Emily if she wouldn't mind continuing their walk a little further. As they both entered the Inn's private English gardens, Jim dropped to one knee and asked the question, to which there was only one reply, "yes". After enjoying a few quiet moments together and deciding to savor the engagement moments between the two of them until they got back to DC (more on that later), they soaked in the rest of the evening with the Inn's Michelin 3-starred restaurant, champagne, and the open hearth fireplace of the Mayor's House. After a relaxing Saturday morning and first day as fiancé's, the two began the trek back to DC, due to Jim's "rescheduled client meeting.” In reality, it was a surprise engagement party with some of their closest friends and family who flew and drove in from all over the USA. It was a truly a magical weekend they will never forget.