After a brief (6 year) engagement, we have decided to get married! Our plan has always been to elope but decided we rather share this moment with our immediate families. The wedding will be very small and intimate and take place in Maureen's parent's backyard. We look forward to sharing this journey with you, including photos and videos.

Maureen and Emmie met through their shared academic circles. Although they did not overlap at their time at the University of Mississippi, they shared the same specific academic interest and even the same advisor. They are unsure where or when they first met, possibly at a conference in D.C. or Denver. They remember Maureen congratulating Emmie on getting into the Ph.D. program on Facebook so they must have been at least acquainted with each other. During a conference in San Antonio in May 2015, they just happened to sit across from each other at a large dinner table with several other conference attendees, which often happens at such events. Unbeknownst to Maureen, Emmie had a crush on her and continued to try to engage Maureen in conversation throughout the conference. They exchanged phone numbers when the conference ended. Although they texted afterwards, Maureen wasn't considering a relationship with Emmie because of the long-term long distance (4 years!) she knew the relationship would involve and that couples who have already been together cannot even make that level of long distance work. Thanks to Emmie's persistence, however, we are about to celebrate their wedding after 7 years together and Maureen is smitten.