Chris and I met at a Halloween party on November 1, 2014, and pretty much hit it off right away. I was getting in my car to leave and he came outside to strike up a conversation with me. I was cold, but he was cute so I stayed a little longer. Our first date was at the former Jimmie and Sooks in Cambridge, MD, where we spent hours talking and getting to know each other. By January 11, 2015, we officially started dating, and the rest is history! Chris has always been my biggest cheerleader. He understood how focused I was on my career and patiently supported me, knowing I wasn’t ready to get engaged for a while. Over the years, we built an amazing life together—moving in, raising our dogs, and enjoying our favorite tradition: lazy Sundays. He hunts, I cook, and we’ve got the perfect rhythm. I’ve also gotten to know and love his daughter, Arabella. For years, I’d said I wanted to get engaged on our 10-year anniversary, and Chris took it to heart. A few weeks before that milestone, he surprised me with lunch at the Tidewater Inn in Easton, MD. Afterward, we wandered into some shops and casually started ring shopping. It wasn’t a quick process—after four (or more) trips to the jeweler and trying out different diamonds we had them order, we finally found the one. Chris bought the ring and started planning how he’d propose. I couldn’t help but offer my two cents—I had a place in mind but left most of it up to him. The one thing I did pick? Dinner. We went to Bas Rouge in downtown Easton for an incredible four-course meal prepared by an award winning chef that set the tone for the evening. After dinner, Chris drove us to Oxford, a quiet little town just outside of Easton. He brought me to a small garden with a fountain dedicated to my grandmother, who sadly passed away a few years ago. The fountain was perfectly lit, topped with red roses, and the whole town was completely still and silent—it felt like time had stopped just for us. Chris got down on one knee, and in true me fashion, I couldn’t resist cracking a joke to make him laugh. I quickly said, “No! Just kidding!” before he could even ask the question. After we both laughed, he officially popped the question. His cousin Jason (and best man) had been hiding nearby to capture the moment, and he even brought two drinks chilling in the snow for us to toast with afterward. The whole week leading up to that moment was magical too—a snowstorm had us snowed in together, which made everything feel cozy and special. Now, we can’t wait to celebrate with all of you and officially start this next chapter together! Get ready, it’s going to be one heck of a party!