We’re getting married!

With us both being from Rochester, but going to different high schools, we had mutual friends growing up. But we don’t remember ever officially meeting back then. We actually met at work through one of our mutual friends, Emily (bridesmaid). We were “just friends” at first and had a little friend group we called Rad Onc Besties. We would do all sorts of things together, like kayaking, tubing, movies, and making dinner together. Then on the 4th of July, we all went lazy river tubing. On the way home Kevin dropped me off last after we drove around trying to get a good view of the fireworks. When we got back to my dads house, he "locked" me in the car! Kevin told me he how these past months were amazing and that he had felt a strong connection between us and had hoped I felt the same. I was heading off to Spain the next day so to let him stew I said we’d talk more when I got back :). I guess you can say things went well when I returned!

From almost the day we met, I had been brainstorming ideas of how to propose. While I spent months internally pitching myself ideas, my family had been throwing around the idea of taking a trip back to Hawaii. This was the PERFECT opportunity! Serious talks, both about the trip and our relationship, started to heat up quickly in the Spring of '19. Hawaii has always held a special place in my heart, it's a place of memories and adventure, synonymous with family. Along with my own planning, I kept getting little "hints" from you-know-who how waterfalls, beaches, and sunsets are so romantic. Before take-off all I had known was that it was going to happen in Maui, our first island so we could celebrate our engagement for the rest of the trip. With the ring tucked away safely with my brother-in-law, Mike, we were all set for vacation. The initial plan was to propose on the way to mass, just like my grandpa did so many years ago, but the environment wasn't right. As we continued walking to mass, we stopped at a popular landmark - the banyan tree in Lahaina. The courtyard holds the largest banyan tree in the United States and one of the most massive in the world (it has 16 trunks!). The tree had been decorated for the holiday - Christmas lights were strung all over this entire network of branches and trunks. It definitely drew a crowd on Christmas Eve so I knew we'd have to come back. On December 26, 2020 with the family doing separate activities, Brit and I had a date night. After sunset Brit and I walked hand-in-hand toward Lahaina, toward the Banyan Tree. Once we were under the tree I took Brit's hands and told her how much she means to me. I got down on one (bad) knee and asked her if I could spend the rest of my life with her. As Brit said YES, we celebrated to applause and a ukulele serenading us in the background. We sealed it with a hug and kiss, ready to begin forever together.