We matched on a dating app called Bumble, and made arrangements for our first date for Friday, July 20th of 2018 at Victory Brewing in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. We hit it off immediately over a few pints of craft beer, tacos, and great conversation!

On a warm spring Sunday evening, I suggested to Ryan that we should take a walk from the Cheshire Kennels to the Ruins at Plantation Field to sit and watch the sunset there, as we had a few times before. He agreed, so after I had finished the kennel chores we took our dogs with us on a nice stroll across the fields to sit in the grass on the high side of the ruins. We watched the dogs hunt for groundhogs and the brightly colored orange, pink and red sunset, and were just enjoying each other’s company. A few weeks prior, we had been on a trip visiting our families in the Carolinas. While we were in Aiken, my hometown, Ryan informed my parents of his intention to ask me for my hand in marriage. They gave him their blessing, and also my maternal grandmother’s, Mary Durban Toole, engagement ring that my grandfather, Gasper Loren Toole III, had bought during the early 1940s in Charleston, SC upon his return from the Pacific in WWII. Ryan kept the ring and waited to propose so that he could surprise me. Since I was the one who had suggested the walk to the ruins, I was not expecting him to propose. As we were among the remnants of the 19th century cattle barn I was teasing him by pointedly saying, “You know, this would be a cool place to have a wedding. But I’m getting ahead of myself because we aren’t even engaged yet.” Ryan responded by saying “Funny you mention that,” as he reached into his pocket for the ring and knelt to ask me to marry him! I was completely surprised and it was a wonderful moment. Clearly, I responded “Yes!” enthusiastically. We are very excited to share this special place with our guests as it will be the location of our wedding ceremony, thanks to the graciousness of the landowner, Mr. Cuyler Walker.