A: We both moved back to our parents because of COVID in March 2020. We also both made Hinge (online dating) profiles. We connected on June 24 and texted for a couple weeks before setting up a FaceTime. We had a really great conversation and talked for 90 minutes, but I wasn’t sure where we were going from there. Was this a great connection or was it the right time? So we took time to figure it out. K: I also wasn’t sure where we were going from that phone call, but I kept thinking about her while we took time. A: I kept thinking about Kate, too. I reached back out saying that I needed to trust my gut and I felt that we had a great connection. I told her I would respect if she didn't respond and there would be no hard feelings, but I wouldn't forgive myself if I let this potential connection miss without trying. K: I admittedly had been looking for her name on my phone, so I was so excited when she texted me again! We agreed to meet up in person when Ash came back to Baltimore for in-person work. A: We were going to meet at my apartment, make dinner, (a yummy salad that would require me to try new foods--beets and goat cheese) and tie-dye shirts. I was so excited because I had only recently learned how to tie-dye and wanted to do it again. K: Now I had *literally* two things I needed to bring, and I forgot to bring the goat cheese. I was also a little less than excited about tie-dye-ing because as a youth minister, I have tie-dyed more things than I care to keep. But she was so excited about it, and it was really cute, so I hyped myself up. And we had so much fun! A: I came back in after walking Kate to her car, closed the door behind me, leaned against it and smiled (I really thought all the romance movies dramatized this). I chuckled and said to myself, “I think I just met my wife.” K: When I got to my car, I texted a friend saying, "This feels right... she might be the one. I feel that peace I have been craving." So, I kept the shirt, and the rest is history!

We knew ahead of time that I would be "the one" to ask Ash to marry me. I had a few ideas - some more far fetched than others - but one I kept coming back to was going to DC and proposing in or near the Capitol. I wanted it to be near the Capitol as a way to honor our love for one another while honoring those who made our marriage legal. Unbeknownst to me, Ashley had started planning a weekend trip to DC! I was excited because (1) I love the city so I was excited to show her around, and (2) this was a perfect way for her to not get suspicious. We planned to go to museums and walk around the city. I drove her around the areas I knew when we go there (got lost a couple times), and kept quizzing her on where we were in the city in relation to the Capitol (like my Mom used to do when we were little). I also made her listen to "Welcome to DC" by Mambo Sauce on repeat as we drove up and down Constitution. We talked about where we wanted to go in the morning, and I made sure she could navigate us there (I am a teacher after all...) I hid her ring in my pocket, and kept fidgeting with it as we walked through the museums, until we got to one of the galleries when we had to walk through a metal detector. In my panic, I thought we had to take all jewelry off to walk through, so I quickly put her ring on my own finger next to another ring I was already wearing. This was not going to be the way she was going to get proposed to! Not at a security checkpoint... We (obviously) made it through the detector, and I slipped the ring back in my pocket. I was excited the whole time leading up to the proposal, except for the 10 minutes before. I suddenly got so nervous, forgot everything I had planned to say, and could not stop giggling. In my nervous energy, I suggested I take a picture of her on her first trip to DC, and had her first face me with her back to the Capitol, and then turned so I had the Capitol to my back for another picture. I knelt down, asked, and she said "yes!"

Kate and I took a love language quiz as part of a date night and it had challenges for each partner to accomplish over the next few weeks. One of my challenges was to plan a weekend away together. I have never been to D.C. and Kate and I have talked about wanting to go there together. I had a feeling there was a possibility Kate would propose, so I wanted to pack her ring/ring box without her seeing so I would be able to propose too. I was able to fit it in one of my slippers and quickly packed it. However, I realized it was going to be near impossible to keep the ring box hidden and definitely not possible for me to carry it around with us. As we were going to different museums and seeing all the incredible buildings, I was so happy to be enjoying all of this with Kate. We got to the National Mall after walking all day and Kate asked if I wanted to get a typical tourist picture, to which I obviously got very excited and proudly stood in front of the Washington Monument and Capitol. When I turned to take in the views, I didn't realize I was about to see a life-changing view... Kate, on one knee, holding up a ring. I am pretty sure I said "yes" before she even said a word. The thought that went into why Kate wanted to propose here was so symbolic and made me love her even more. I also still swear that the guy that was on a bench playing the guitar started playing "Marry Me" by Train, but I was in such bliss that I couldn't bring myself to look away from Kate. Right after this we went back to the hotel and I was trying to wrap my head around how to propose back to her. I didn't want to wait any longer to complete the proposal. As we started to settle in, I quickly grabbed my slipper and kept fumbling around trying to get the ring box out before Kate turned around. Thankfully, I got it and quickly got on one knee before I tapped Kate to turn around. I told her how I had planned to do it another way, but that I would love even more for it to be done on the same day and share this happiness together!