We met while working at The Melting Pot together. Mark was working there as a manager, and I had just gotten hired in. At first, I thought that Mark really didn't like me, because he was always mean to me. Little did I know it's because he thought I was cute and was trying to keep his cool. ;) In spring of 2010, we started hanging out and a friendship blossomed. Coworkers and friends alike argued that we "LIKE liked" each other, but we both swore that we were just friends. One night while working, we went outside to break down the patio and got sidetracked by how beautiful the stars looked. While looking up at the stars, I looked over at Mark in the moonlight and thought, "Oh My God. WHY DO THINK HE LOOKS CUTE RIGHT NOW!!?" After that moment, it became more and more apparent every day that the friendship was growing into something much deeper, and we finally admitted that we "LIKE liked" each other.

On January 9th, 2017, we had plans to go out to dinner. While I was getting ready, Mark was out on the back patio and called for me to come out there real quick because he wanted to show me something. As I rushed out there, I remember thinking "oh great, what did the dog get into this time...?" When I stepped on the patio, he pointed up at the sky and said "Do you see the stars, how beautiful they look right now? Well, we were looking up at this same night sky the moment you realized you had feelings for me, and it's under this same night sky that I hope you'll say you want to spend the rest of your life with me." I turned, and he was down on one knee, and said "Lauren, will you marry me?" and of course, I said YES!