it was an april afternoon. a group of friends and acquaintances rented a bus to "winery-hop" around virginia's wine country, just outside of dc. john was sitting on a picnic blanket next to maegan and her friend (hey aileen!). the sun and his smile were beaming at her when she first noticed him. they quickly discovered how much they had in common: that they both went to pitt and that their families lived just 45 minutes away from each other in pennsylvania. he was cute and she was flirtatious. they spent the rest of the day together, and made out for practically the entire hour-long bus ride home. they would see each other a few more times over the next couple weeks. and then not again for a year...

even though john would randomly text maegan to invite her out during the year they lost touch, it took them connecting on a dating app before they would meet up in-person again. they connected on the app, almost as a joke. john sent maegan a cheeky note, "funny who you run into on these things." they set a time for a second first-date. toward the end of the night, john invited maegan on a trip to hawaii he was taking just two weeks later. she accepted this invite (and predicted on that trip that, one day, they would get married)...

over the next three years, the couple would travel around the world, move in together, add a new puppy to their family, quarantine and work-from-home together in a 700 sq foot apartment, develop a new home, add another puppy to their family, move in to their new home, and, ultimately, decide to get married!

john planned a romantic getaway to puerto rico -- one of their favorite spots and extra exciting because it was their first trip post-quarantine. he organized a catamaran excursion, complete with snorkeling and champagne lunch. the catamaran broke down. they took a pirate ship instead. maegan got the most seasick and sun poisoned she's ever been in her life. his plan to propose that day was ruined! the next day, as they were walking around el moro and taking photos, john asked maegan to marry him. she accepted with delight.