Our start was easy. Like many of our generation, we "met" through a dating website -- one simple, online message. One message grew into two, then one text turned into 20 and one day led to a week of non-stop conversation from early morning into the late night hours. It didn't take long for us to decide we wanted to meet in person, and so we did on Oct. 5. Lauren made the first of many long car trips, bravely trekking 3.5 hours north to see someone she had only known a few weeks through a phone. Dinner, endless laughs and smiles, a disappointing Bengals game playing in the background – it was the beginning of a trend that has now lasted over four years (including the disappointing Bengals games...). It wasn't all easy, living 200 miles apart for over two years. But the decision to keep going was the easiest decision we ever had to make. And in 2016, we finally moved in together. Now, we'll move towards our future as we commit ourselves to each other. Thank you to our friends and family for all of the support over the years!

Having bought a ring, poor Lauren had to keep a secret for weeks as she waited for Ashley to get home from a work trip. On May 4, Ashley was due to return home, and nervous, sweating Lauren was anxious to finally ask. After a delayed flight, Ashley didn't get home until after 9 p.m., leaving Lauren's anxiety to build. Ashley: Landed, I'm on my way home. Lauren: Yay! Are you hungry? Ashley: YES Lauren: I got you. *Ashley arrives home, exhausted, to find a salmon dinner Ashley: …salmon? At 9 at night? Lauren: ...yeah. Ashley: *looking Lauren up and down as she nervously makes a plate* ....why are you acting weird Lauren: *nervous laugh* I just missed you! *Ashley shrugs it off and goes to the bedroom to immediately begin unpacking Lauren walks in: Do you HAVE to do that right NOW? Ashley: Yeah? I always do this? *Lauren storms off to the kitchen, leaving Ashley confused. Ashley follows her and sits down to eat Ashley: I am so exhausted. I think I'm just going to finish this and go to bed. Lauren: Well I have another surprise for you though. *Lauren pulls a white raspberry cake from our favorite bakery from the fridge Ashley: What's this? Lauren: I just wanted to surprise you. *Ashley begins to eat a slice, with Lauren standing behind her. Lauren interrupts one of Ashley's bites… Lauren: Feel how fast my heart is beating right now. *Ashley turns around to find Lauren, with her arms behind her back Ashley: Are you okay? *Ashley feels Laurens heart, which was beating through her chest. Lauren takes a knee and pulls out a box from behind her back, and says... Lauren: I just wanted to ask if you'd like to spend your life with me? And, of course, Ashley said..."Are you serious right now?" Lauren laughed and said, "Yes I'm serious! What's your answer?" Ashley put on the ring, wrapped her arms tightly around Lauren, and said, "Of course yes." After calling their families, Ashley finally got to fall asleep. And didn't unpack her luggage until morning.