It all started at Edgely. They both were approaching the end of their sophomore year, Alex at St. Joseph's Prep and Máire at Merion Mercy Academy. As an initiation rite, all sophomores of Prep, Merion and other high schools on the Main Line were finally invited to their first "Edgely" (a decades long tradition ran by Prep boys in Fairmount Park... if you know, you know). As Máire was walking out of the party, she spots a cute boy in an Allen Iverson jersey walking in... what does she do...? She cat calls him. "YOU'RE CUTE, what's your Snapchat?" Alex was MORE than happy to give this little cutie his Snapchat (love at first sight???) Welp, a whole summer goes by and neither one ever made any moves after their meet cute... Until Máire's best friend Lucy decides to set them up. Alex and Máire "sort of" remembered each other, but both were too embarrassed to admit it. Well... after one date, the rest is history! After just three dates, Alex asked Máire to be his girlfriend!! Forever each other's date to prom, homecoming, Harvest Moon, college formals and now WEDDINGS! High school sweethearts! <3

They were about to celebrate 9 years of dating on August 31st. Máire had a feeling Alex was going to propose around the time of their anniversary... what she didn't know was how he was going to do it. Alex told Máire he was golfing Saturday morning (big shock), but told her he had a surprise dinner that night! Máire couldn't wait to sleep in and spend the whole day getting ready for the big night... Plot twist. Máire gets woken up by her sister Johanna in her and Alex's apartment with mimosas and Gilmore Girls. Johanna tells Máire, "we're spending the day together. Get up. Get dressed. We're going down the shore for the day." Máire was FRAZZLED (how did Johanna even get in the apartment?!) Máire then walks into the kitchen to a bouquet of flowers and note saying "I love you MK. I'll see you tonight." (cue tears) Johanna has Máire try on a million different white dresses to wear for the "dinner" that night. Finally, they hop in the car for their "sister beach day." As they are looking for a spot in Margate to grab beach day necessities (white claws and pretzels), Johanna parks the car at a restaurant on beach block. She looks at Máire and says "grab your dress and makeup, go inside the restaurant, the waitresses are expecting you." (GASP!) Máire goes in and gets ready for the moment she's been waiting for her whole life! Johanna then walks Máire to the beach and when they reach the end of the path, she gives her little sister a big hug and says "you got it from here." (sobbing!!) Máire walks towards Alex who has a bouquet of the most beautiful flowers in his hands and standing on a Lilly blanket (obviously) and FINALLY asks her the question they both dreamt about!!! Spoiler alert... she said YES! Alex then brought Máire back to her parent's house where he had planned a HUGE surprise engagement party with all of their bestest friends!!! The party of a lifetime (including a chip off for the boys while the ladies popped champs)!!! We can't wait for our big day with our most favorite people in the world!!! 10.26.24 we're coming for ya! <3