After meeting on Facebook, Katie and Charlie met in the middle for dinner after work at Tavern In the Square in Littleton, MA for their first date. They saw each other’s cars in the parking lot and both immediately thought “this isn’t going to work, but I’m already here.” The date ended up being amazing and lasted three hours. Katie and Charlie went to Kimball Farm in Westford, MA for their second date a week after their first date. They met bright and early since Charlie had a wedding to go to and Katie was working an overnight. They played mini golf, got ice cream, and chatted for as long as they could. In the parking lot (running late for work) Katie thought “this guy must not like me, it’s the end of the second date and he hasn’t kissed me.” Charlie was thinking “I HAVE to kiss this girl now, I’ve been trying to all morning.” Katie went in for a hug while Charlie leaned in to kiss her. As awkward as it was in the moment, they still laugh about it today. After their third date at a food truck festival, Charlie invited Katie to come up to NH to watch a movie at his house the next day with the dogs. They were both worried about the dogs getting along, but Katie and Aspen drove up to NH the next day. Jax and Aspen ended up getting along wonderfully, and make great dog siblings now. The following weekend Katie went up after work on Friday, and was planning on going home Saturday morning, but Charlie invited her to his friend’s son’s 4th birthday party. So, less than a month into dating Katie met all of Charlie’s family and friends. Shortly after Charlie met her friends and family as well. For months, they had been talking about Katie moving in in the spring. Then the late winter. Then early winter. One day (it was December 5th) Katie didn’t feel well, so she called out of work, drove up and never left. Eventually, they went to get her stuff and officially move her in. After her whole life of being in the suburbs (but thinking she lived in a small town), there was little bit of culture shock at first but soon wore off and she realized this is where she’s meant to be. Together, they made (as Katie called it) the cleanest frat house you’d ever seen into their home. Together, they continue to grow their love for one another and can’t wait to share their wedding day with friends and family.

Katie grew up going to the Balloon Festival every year as a kid and one of her favorite memories from those trips was having lunch at Simon Pearce. She mentioned to Charlie in the winter that she’d love to go back again. They booked a trip for the spring that night. Fast forward to the spring when Charlie was building stairs off the kitchen door and Katie was making bread. She brought a piece of the bread out to him. He took a bite and his face dropped in a ‘this is amazing’ kind of way. He blurted out “do you want to get married.” Katie replied “well yeah.” This happened back and forth for months. Charlie found out that his Nana had given his mom a ring when he was young for him to use when it was time. He picked the ring up and had it reset. In May, Nana got to see the ring the day before she passed. As heartbreaking as it is, it’s very special that she got to see the inside of their house and the ring. In June, Charlie went to talk to Katie’s parents and get their approval. He was planning on waiting to propose until August for their planned trip to Acadia. The day before they left for Quechee, VT a week after he talked to Katie’s parents, he decided that he was going to propose that weekend and “find a moment that felt right.” Charlie had never been to Simon Pearce before and the moment they were seated at their table for lunch he knew that this is where he would propose. But he left the ring in the car. After lunch they went down to glassblowing and out to the balcony and he knew that that was the spot he would do it, but the ring was still in the car. They got back in the car and explored Quechee and surrounding towns for a few hours until it was time to check into the airbnb. After rinsing off and changing out of their nice clothes, they went to the balloon festival for a little bit, and realized it was too early for the evening Balloon Glow. They took a stroll and ended up back at glassblowing and then back on the balcony. Katie was numb to the “do you want to get married joke” at this point and didn’t even look at him when he said it or notice he got down on one knee until he didn’t have a witty comeback. She looked at him and just kept saying “are you serious!” It was truly the most perfect proposal with breathtaking scenery.