We didn't think much about going to a bar to meet someone, but here we are. I went out one night to go line dancing like I normally did when I was home from college. Ryan went out to have a beer and listen to some good music. Ryan asked me to dance and after a few rounds of beer pong, (and not being able to buy me a drink), we said goodnight and went our separate ways. The next night Ryan went to the bar again waiting for me to show up like I said I would. I was stuck at home nursing an injury and had no way of reaching him to say I couldn't make it. Ryan will forever claim I stood him up that night and that's okay (but I did get injured). The next night I went back again before going back to DC; Ryan and I started talking again and finally exchanged numbers. For our first date Ryan decided to take me down to the Outer Banks to try a restaurant that we now visit every so often. We continued talking when I went back to school and when Ryan would go on underways; we would often go back and forth between the two cities to see each other for a day or two or a few hours. I guess you could say everything worked out.

For a few months, we had been modeling for some local photographer friends of ours. We were planning to do a shoot with our friend Meghan, but it got pushed back and she contacted us to see if we would go on a trip to the Shenandoah Mountains for an elopement shoot. We agreed and happily planned outfits and styling. Unknown to me, Ryan and Meghan had been planning a surprise engagement session. On our way to Shenandoah, none of us realized it had snowed the few days prior, making everyone nervous for how cold and wet this could get. Driving up the mountain we almost got stuck a few times, but Meghan and Marshall drove up to a cute field where we took some photos. Meghan had prompted Ryan and I to turn our backs to each other and pretend to do a first look. I turned around, and asked a few times if it was for real and if this was serious, still trying to figure out if this is just for the photoshoot. Obviously, he was serious and here we are.