Fresh out of college, Brayton and Maria both started their careers at Textron in the Leadership Development Program – Maria in the summer and Brayton the following January. Their first rotations were in Fort Worth, TX, where they met when a large group got together for a lake day. After that, they hung out routinely as part of the friend group. Toward the end of the following summer, Maria and Brayton received notice of their next rotation; coincidently, they were both assigned to Wichita, KS. After many parties, hangouts, and Brayton getting an Orange Theory membership so he could work out with Maria and see her more; Brayton asked Maria to get dinner at Wichita Brewing Company. With just two months of Brayton’s Wichita rotation remaining, they started hanging out more and loved spending time together. After eight months in Wichita, Brayton was assigned to San Antonio for his next rotation. The day before he left, he asked Maria to come over while his dad was in town helping him move. She thought it was a group of people – turns out Brayton just invited Maria! While he was in Texas, they texted every day and FaceTimed frequently, but they decided because Brayton wasn’t sure where he was moving to next, it was best they remain friends. They stopped talking as much until he told Maria he was moving back to Wichita! They weren’t sure what would happen when he moved back, but after getting dinner at the Monarch and spending some time together, Brayton asked Maria out on what they call their first official date ─ axe throwing! (Maria kicked his butt and won every game.) Three years after they first met and one year after they officially started dating, Brayton asked Maria to marry him at his grandparents’ lake house in Wisconsin, surrounded by both of their families. Their favorite things to do together are walks through College Hill, making dinner, meal prepping, working out, attending (many!) weddings, going on trips, and talking about the future.