The first time we met was at a church retreat. Ryan was there with Ronnie, Caleb and Xavier. I was there with Francesca (my MOH) and one of our middle school friends who was a member at the church and invited us to join. I remember thinking Ryan was cute. I was starting at Menchville that fall where he and his friends already went. We talked a little (Ryan still has the facebook messages where he slid in my dms and asked for my number for the first time lol) but nothing ever came of it. We reconnected years later when we had both graduated college and were living and working up in Northern VA (again, Ryan slid in my dms lol!) On our first date, he took me to the Cheesecake factory. I would later find out that was his classic first date spot. He told me he was worried his friend Caleb might show up to spy on him, something that had actually happened before. After dinner, we drove around and went to Freddy's for ice cream sundaes. I remember being surprised at 1) what a gentleman Ryan was 2) what a strong southern accent he had. Weren't we from the same place?! The rest was history!

Our proposal story is the most classic Ryan and Erin thing ever. The week leading up to the proposal, I was on a work trip in Northern VA. Ryan texted me suggesting we get dinner with my mom and Francesca when I got back on Friday. I was immediately suspicious (and hopeful) something was up since I am usually the planner for these things but I played it cool and agreed to the plans. That Friday morning, I woke up and called my mom on my morning walk with Bean. I said, "this is it, the day I'm getting engaged!" I told her not to confirm or deny either way but that I was hopeful that I was right. Well, she went and told Ryan I was onto them. And of course he couldn't have that. He spent the rest of the day being a total jerk to me trying to throw me off and it worked! By the time dinner rolled around, I thought there's no way he is proposing tonight. And I was pretty pissed off about it lol! My mom and I left to pick up Francesca for dinner and I spent the whole car ride telling her how disappointed I was and grilling her on if he had mentioned or even hinted he was thinking about proposing anytime soon. When we got to where Francesca asked to be picked up from (a family friend's house who lives on the water), she asked my mom and I to get out of the car to come see their new boat. I think I said something like "I'm pretty sure I could see it from here." LOL. She insisted (she's been dealing with my attitude for so long now it doesn't even phase her anymore) so we all started walking down towards the private beach. I noticed there were rose petals on the ground. Francesca said she thought I would have said something at that point but I was so scared I was getting my hopes up again, I couldn't believe it was really happening. Ryan was standing on the beach with a sign that said marry me. As soon as I saw him standing there, looking so handsome in his white dress shirt and khaki pants, I burst into tears. I practically ran over to him and he got down on one knee. His mom, dad and Monga were waiting at the house and came down to the beach with us afterwards. There was a lot of tears, hugging, champagne chugging (me), and photos taken with a beautiful sunset. After the sun went down, he said he had another surprise for dinner and drove us to my best friend Sarah's house where our friends and family were waiting for us. They had decorated the house with balloons, photos of Ryan of I, and even got a cookie cake that said "She Said Yes! Future Mrs. Lauderman." Cue more crying. Thank you to Ryan and our friends and family for planning the most perfect proposal I could have asked for. I have never felt so much love. It truly was the most special, happiest night of my life.