Truth be told, if it wasn't for a single virus taking over the planet in March 2020, Lily and Oean would likely have never met, or at least, reconnected. They knew each other from their student days at Benjamin Bosse High School for the performing arts, where they both participated in concert and marching band. However, Oean was a grizzled Senior and Lily a novel Freshman, so their social circles didn't really cross each other. Flash forward five or so years, Lily was a Junior at Indiana University and studying abroad in Budapest, Hungary. Meanwhile, Oean was volunteering abroad as part of the Peace Corps in Balibo, Timor-Leste. As fate would have it, Covid-19 swept across the Earth, closing all international borders and sending Lily and Oean home to Evansville, Indiana. Later that summer, they reconnected over milkshakes at Sonic Drive-In and the rest was history. For anyone who doesn't know Lily, two of her hobbies are painting (mostly Simpsons characters) and collecting clowns (Oean included). When it came time to pop the question, Oean remembered a solemn vow he made on a whim to Lily. "When I propose to you, it will be with a 2002 Burger King x Simpsons 'Krusty the Clown' wrist-watch." - and by god he would keep his promise. Oean schemed and plotted, and in April 2025 with a Costa Rican mountain breeze, a castle background, and under the tropical setting sun, Oean asked Lily if she would marry him. Completely surprised and nails perfectly done, Lily said yes. Glistening in the sun, her shiny new rock looked almost as nice as her new watch. - Oean That about sums it up! When we aren't off on a wild adventure, we're usually hanging out in our little corner of DC with Dango and Creed, our feline children. Our apartment is filled with all sorts of art and trinkets, much of it cat or Pokémon related. I'd say the pièce de resistance, however, is a 10 foot tall illustrated poster of Frida Kahlo that watches over us in the living room, courtesy of Oean asking a Zumiez store employee to buy it from the mall display for $40. She bears witness to all of our late night sushi orders, TV binges, and marathon board game nights. As avid recreational chefs, we love making delicious food and hosting at our place as well. Our signature vodka penne has been given the thumbs-up by many guests, although they may have just been angling to get more dessert. We have a friendly competition going of whose baked goods are preferred more by the apartment front office (and Oean may even be winning - not that I would ever concede!). Ask him about his cookie-cookies, or me about my coconut pie. I think we both knew for a while that we had something special - hopefully that's not an outrageous assumption. Maybe it's my profusely dry humor and wit, or maybe it's Oean's goofy laugh and his sick tats. Either way, we seem to go together like peanut butter and jelly, or like wedding cake and my mouth. To be cheesy about it though, we're grateful and excited for everyone to be joining us as we tie the knot and begin the next chapter. See you soon! <3 - Lily