In the spring of 2014 while Mary was in college at Drexel University, she spotted a cute boy and wondered who he was. After seeing him many times during her walks across campus between classes and field hockey practice, she figured out the boy’s name was Kyle, Facebook stalked him and slyly slid into his DMs — the start of a modern romance. To her sweet surprise, Kyle responded.   The couple went on their first date at Sava’s, a beloved local pizza place, and it was a disaster, of course. Mary ate her pizza with a fork and knife, which Kyle thought was strange, and Kyle broke his chair. Mary was sure the relationship was over, and it hadn’t even started. But the two were determined to make their fledgling romance work. A few months later they were coupled up and, six years later, they’re finally engaged — now, it’s time to get married!

Kyle strategically planned the proposal right under Mary’s nose, and she was completely unaware. He tricked his future bride into believing his parents were renewing their vows on the beach in New Jersey in early April 2021. Kyle tasked Mary with taking Mrs. Lukens to the beach for the surprise renewal. But, when they walked to the beach, no renewal ceremony was in sight.   Mary, nervous she fumbled the surprise, walked further around the dune bend only to see a different surprise — a candlelit path leading to her future husband and a lighted sign that read “Marry Me?” Heart racing, Mary walked the path to Kyle, and he dropped to one knee. So excited, Mary’s memory of the proposal is a little fuzzy, but, of course, she said, “Yes!”