Lauren and Jeremy are from Frankfort, Kentucky and both attended Hearn Elementary School where they met in the third grade. Some of you reading may remember the glory days of bus rides across town, the pit, and of course, Tony Award winning performances in the Nutcracker. Apparently, it took a few years for Jeremy to charm her, but by sixth-grade, Lauren thought Jeremy was really something. While preparing for Jeremy to move into their new apartment in Arlington, VA last summer, Lauren discovered an old Bondurant Middle School yearbook in which she had circled his signature and written "special." It sounds too cute to be true, but you can't make this stuff up. Still taking their time, the two finally dated the summer after freshman year in college, but grew apart with distance, as Lauren was attending Centre College in Kentucky and Jeremy was attending the University of Maine @ Fort Kent, which might as well have been Canada. Evidently the spark never died though. At the start of 2020, they reconnected right as the pandemic started, and Lauren invited Jeremy, living in Kentucky, to visit her in Virginia. While there, sitting on the couch watching “Andy at 5,” Governor Beshear informed Kentuckians that anyone leaving the state would be required to quarantine for 14 days upon return. Oops! Who knew the way to Jeremy’s heart would be having her good friend Sarah Bishop and her dad Dennis drop off necessities like coffee, toilet paper, butter, beer, and bourbon so Jeremy wouldn’t suffer through quarantine? Ok, maybe that was a no brainer, and Lauren was all over it. So, though it took a few decades and events put in motion by a once in a generation pandemic, Lauren and Jeremy finally decided they were meant to spend the rest of their lives together and look forward to finally celebrating with all of you!

Lauren and Jeremy were visiting Jeremy's brother Brian and sister-in-law Kate in October 2020 at their farm in Maine. They went for a hike on a beautiful fall day to celebrate Kate’s birthday. While Lauren was running ahead with niece and nephew Lula and Finn, Brian asked Jeremy when he was planning to propose. Brian knew Jeremy had a custom engagement ring made by good friend Kim Wallis months earlier. Jeremy told Brian he had the ring with him, nestled in a beautiful wooden box crafted by good friend Joe Berry. Jeremy had been carrying it around waiting for the perfect moment, and Brian pointed out that this was one such moment. There was an incredible waterfall at the end of the trail and Kate, a professional photographer, had brought her camera. When the crew arrived at the waterfall, the kids played, the adults enjoyed the sights and smells of autumn, and Kate snapped pictures until it was time to head back. But Jeremy still had not popped the question! He hung back and called to Lauren for one more hug in front of the waterfall, and Lauren noticed he was shaking. When she asked why, Jeremy said because it’s cold, and paused, and said he also was nervous because had a question. And then he got down on one knee and asked, "will you marry me?" Lauren was in complete shock and kept repeating, "what's happening?!" while she leaned down to kiss Jeremy again and again. Realizing she hadn’t actually said yes yet, and that Jeremy’s knee must be getting sore from the granite. Lauren emphatically said "Of course! Yes!” and pulled Jeremy to his feet. Thankfully Brian noticed something was happening and got Kate’s attention. Kate scrambled through branches and boulders, and thanks to her talent, captured beautiful images of one of the best moments of Lauren's and Jeremy’s lives. Still in shock on their hike back to the car, Lauren, a known crier, didn't actually shed a tear until Finn gave her a big hug and said "Congratulations, Aunt Lauren!"