August 11th, 2017 is where our story begins. While we were both Ohio State students from 2014-2017, and while we frequented all of the same bars, restaurants, parties, campus spots, and Greek life events year after year, and even while having many overlapping friends and social circles, our paths somehow never (knowingly) crossed until this day. Kate was getting ready to head into her final year at Ohio State, Taylor his final semester. We were both living off-campus during our summer break when our two very different interests serendipitously brought us together. Kate was working as a camp counselor at Ohio State's youth summer camp, Camp Recky; Taylor was an athlete on the Ohio State Crew team. We first officially met on this August Friday night, at a small party amongst these two groups of mutual friends - the camp counselors and the rowers. All that needed to happen for everything to fall perfectly into place was the two of us sitting down next to each other and striking up a simple conversation. We both still recall that night, as the small talk turned into not-so-small talk and the awkward giggles turned into deep belly laughs, both hearing a little voice inside our heads, insisting: 'This must be it.' We made an important discovery that night: Having just signed leases for adjacent apartments on East 14th Ave, we were about to become next-door neighbors for the upcoming school year. From there, as they say, the rest is history. Our relationship quickly blossomed from flirtatious neighbors to falling in love. We feel so lucky to have found each other exactly when we did; we wouldn't have been ready for each other a moment sooner, and we wouldn't have wanted to wait for each other a moment longer. After we both graduated from OSU, we entered "adulthood" together, building a strong foundation and growing from any obstacles we faced. We moved in together in 2020, and we have lived in our apartment that feels like a home together for over 5 years now with our 3 cats, Charlie, Chester and Seven. Taylor proposed on June 3rd, 2023, right around the corner from our Dennison Avenue apartment, in Goodale Park. This park (along with the entirety of Victorian Village/Short North) has always been a special place for the two of us. Taylor had been secretly planning the proposal for months, involving all of Kate's friends and family in the process. While Kate's four best friends led her to believe they were just walking through the park to get to a nearby restaurant for their girls' outing, Taylor was awaiting Kate's arrival under the gazebo. After Kate said "YES," we had a quick and memorable surprise engagement photoshoot with two incredible photographers (The Delongs), and then Kate was whisked away to Hyde Park Steakhouse for a special dinner with her new fiancé. Taylor also managed to fit one more HUGE surprise into the day. After dinner, Kate opened the door to our apartment to find our families and all of our closest friends gathered for a surprise engagement party. About 3 months later, Kate had a surprise for Taylor of his own. She secretly planned a "proposal" for Taylor, leading him on a scavenger hunt all over Columbus to all of our favorite and most memorable spots, friends meeting him at each one with clues. The clues led Taylor to Kate, waiting for him at Goodale Park in the exact spot he proposed. Taylor received a ring of his own, followed by his own surprise party with all of his friends and family back at our apartment. We've shared countless adventures, dates, laughs, and unforgettable memories together over the last 8 years. We have grown so much together, both as partners and individuals. We are so excited and thankful to be sharing this special day with all of the wonderful people in our lives. We feel eager to start this new chapter of our life together as husband and wife, continue building our life together, and start the process of buying a house of our own. Here's to forever! :)