We are getting married!

We first crossed paths in 2008 during our first Chemistry class at the University of Kentucky. Bill had an eye for Kelsey and would comment on the doddles (of eyes) she would frequently draw on her notes, getting quiet smiles in return. On several occasions, Bill would walk Kelsey back to her dorm talking about class to keep the conversation moving. Kelsey was confused, wondering why this cute boy was taking an interest in her, thinking it must be some kind of joke. Fast forward two years later, after a brief encounter a mutual friend gave Kelsey's number to Bill, we knew we had found something different in each other. We spent most days together until we graduated college. While this stage of our lives was full of uncertainty and insecurity, we felt at home together. What we didn't know at the time was that in order to be together, we needed to grow into ourselves as individuals first. We fumbled through that process and learned from each misstep, always knowing that what each of was missing was the other. In 2016, Bill was at a music festival that was happening two hours from where Kelsey lived. We hadn't spoken in over a year, but we both knew we needed to see each other. After brief messages and without thinking, Kelsey drove to the festival in the middle of the night and we talked until the sun came up. These hours were our new beginning, one free of those uncertainties and insecurities from before. And that was it. Three years, two moves, and two jobs later we are getting married. Something we both dreamed of and worked for since 2010.

It was a wet, dreary, cold night in December. A night most might deem forgettable, but for us, it was magic. As we walked up to the High Museum for the Yayoi Kusama Infinity Mirrors exhibit, nerves were high as we were both filled with anticipation. Bill was anxious to keep the ring out of sight. Kelsey was trying to stay present even though she knew a proposal could happen any day. With seven rooms to pick from, Kelsey took the lead and chose the first stop on the tour of Infinity Mirrors. Unbeknownst to her, the first room she picked was where Bill’s well-planed proposal was going to take place. We queued up in line and nerves rose with each step towards the big moment. Groups of three went into the room with anticipation, and groups of three came out of the room in amazement of what they had just witnessed. We were up next. As we stepped into the room and the door closed gently behind us, the moment had arrived. Bill passed his phone to Zach and asked him to take a quick picture of he and Kelsey. Kelsey was trying to make good use of the 30 second time limit in the room but quickly agreed to the photo request. We posed, arms around each other, and in one fell swoop Bill dropped to one knee. Initially Kelsey chalked Bill's drop to a knee as his usual "hamming it up for the photo" antics, but took a peek down and saw an emerald ring and Bill staring back at her and Bill asking, "Will you marry me?" As soon as Kelsey realized what was happening, she dissolved into tears. The weight of this moment did not go unnoticed as the room attendant held back the crowd and gave us a little extra time. The rest of the night was peppered with all the feelings one could imagine. This was what we had worked so hard for, to make the choice to spend the rest of our lives growing together. We can’t wait to make that same choice every day.