In 2022, Lauren was still figuring out who she was and what she wanted out of life when she picked up a small part-time job. Around the same time, a Georgia-born southern boy named Dylen was facing those same questions. Unsure of his next step, Dylen made the decision to join the United States Navy, a choice that would ultimately guide him exactly where he was meant to be. At work, Lauren became close with a coworker who had recently left the Navy. During slow moments, she would FaceTime her wife back home in Virginia. One day, Lauren jokingly said she needed a southern boy—not someone from the West Coast anymore. Without hesitation, her coworker insisted her wife’s best friend, Dylen, would be perfect. What followed were a few awkward FaceTime calls, exchanged phone numbers, and constant texting. At first, Lauren thought it was just a fun way to pass the time—until three days into texting, Dylen embarrassingly asked what her name was (something Lauren still hasn’t let him forget). Despite that, they talked every day and quickly became inseparable. Lauren eventually flew to Virginia to meet Dylen in person. They rented a small Airbnb and spent three days together, and by the first night, Lauren knew—Dylen was going to be her best friend, if not her husband. On September 11th, just after midnight while watching a movie, Dylen asked Lauren to make it official. She said yes—and the next morning double-checked that she heard him correctly. She had. After a year of long distance, Lauren moved to Virginia in January 2024 to be with Dylen while he continued serving in the Navy. It was a big adjustment from Las Vegas and far from home, but being together made everything else fall into place. After five years of service in the Navy, Dylen transitioned into the next chapter of his career and became a police officer, continuing his commitment to serving others. At the end of 2024, they received the happiest surprise when they found out they were expecting their first child. Not long after, on January 11, 2025, during a snowy day in Virginia, they took their dog Stella to the dog park. Dylen suggested walking a little farther—and that’s when he got down on one knee and asked Lauren to marry him. It wasn’t until later that they realized it was the very same day he had asked her to be his girlfriend years earlier. Lauren, of course, said yes. They chose to do things their own way. On June 9, 2025, they tied the knot at the Chesapeake Courthouse. That morning, they went to Target to pick out their wedding outfits—a simple, spontaneous moment that became one of Lauren’s favorite memories and a perfect reflection of their love. On August 8, 2025, surrounded by family, they welcomed their son, Kayce James Rutledge, into the world—forever changing their hearts and completing their family. By the end of 2025, they decided to take one more leap of faith, moving to South Carolina for a new job and a brand-new chapter. And as fate would have it, they later realized they received their marriage license on March 11, making April 11 the perfect day to celebrate their love with family and friends.