Like many modern couples, we met on Bumble. Mike had to cancel our first date because "something blew up at work" and Lauren gave him the benefit of the doubt and rescheduled. Turns out, manhole fires are a real thing. We had our first date 2.0 at Manayunk Brewing Company and although the date went well, we both later shared with each other that we guessed the other person wouldn't be calling us again!

Mike proposed to Lauren on May 2, 2020. It was a beautiful, sunny spring day and we went for a drive. Mike said "I see people pulled over here all the time" and parked his car next to a small pond in front of the Malvern Academy. We sat on a warm boulder for a little while soaking in the day and enjoying each other's company. A month and a half into the COVID-19 pandemic, Mike was unable to go to a jewelry store and purchase a ring, so he said "I'm too cheap to buy two rings*, but will you marry me?" and proposed using his high school class ring. Lauren thought he was joking until he got down on one knee. * Special note: It was worth the wait, because Mike ultimately designed a wonderfully thoughtful ring with Lauren's mother's diamond, a sapphire they mined together in Montana, and a fossil. Lauren's ring is old (fossil), new (ring setting), borrowed (diamond), and blue (sapphire).

Our wedding was originally planned for October 2, 2021, but the pandemic threw a wrench in our plans and we postponed the celebration with family and friends to our current date, October 15, 2022. We just couldn't wait to get married and start our lives together... so we eloped in Yellowstone National Park on October 1, 2021. The ceremony was so small (just us, our officiant, and our photographer) that our officiant had to bring a friend just so we had enough witnesses for the marriage license! Mike started the day with a solo hike and saw elk bugling. Then we drove from the southern part of the park to our ceremony site at the north end, stopping at some sites along the way (like Old Faithful). After our ceremony, we drove through Lamar Valley with our photographer where we saw numerous bison and tiny dots we were told were wolves, stopping to take pictures along the way. You may notice that your RSVP cards are actually Yellowstone postcards, a nod to our elopement. We hope you still look forward to celebrating with us. We are certainly looking forward to celebrating with you!