We both attended SUNY Oneonta, or the State University of New York at Oneonta if you want to be fancy about it. As two people whose paths likely wouldn't have crossed (Caitlin majored in English and Lauren majored in Business), our mutual music interests brought us both to Oneonta's all-women a capella group, Pitch Slapped. Each of our first vocal solos was, coincidentally, performing Hozier's "Take Me to Church." As Caitlin, the beatboxer, and Lauren, the vocalist, we became fast friends and thoroughly admired each other's talents. It wasn't until two years later, at the end of Caitlin's senior year, that we began to date, and five years after that, we can't even believe we're engaged. It feels so lame to say that music brought us together, but it kind of did. And we can't think of a better way to have gotten to know each other, practicing musical arrangements in the dinky classrooms of our little state school, surrounded by some of our closest friends that'll also be joining us on our wedding day.

Around the time of Caitlin's birthday in May, Lauren thought she was sneakily working with close friends to create the ultimate surprise birthday party. Little did she know, Caitlin was actually working with those same friends to turn the tables on Lauren, using the fictional surprise birthday party as a surprise engagement. Caitlin acted surprised upon arrival at the party, and friends suggested that the birthday girl make a toast. After thanking everyone for making the party happen and for attending, Caitlin turned to Lauren and thanked her for planning what she believed to be a surprise birthday party but was actually a surprise engagement for the two of them. Lauren immediately started crying and, quite literally, ran away. Once Caitlin got Lauren to stop running away and turn around, she got down on one knee and proposed. Shout out to all our amazing friends without whose help this iconic proposal story wouldn't be possible!