We met online but it's not your typical online dating story. Melissa and Brendan were both on Bumble but Melissa had deleted the app. Brendan saw Melissa, recognized where she worked and saw that they studied Kinesiology in college, so he found her on Facebook and messaged her there. Although slightly creeped out, Melissa found it flattering that Brendan would put himself out there and take a leap of faith to send a message that could have been overlooked. We are both so glad he sent that message because we found our perfect match. We can't wait to start the next chapter in our love story!

This is our engagement story being told by Melissa. Brendan came over Christmas night to spend the rest of the week and weekend with me. I had the idea that he may propose Christmas night but every time I thought he might propose, it never happened so I pretty much put it out of my head so I wouldn't expect it. It didn't happen Christmas night. I had mentioned I wanted to go ice skating in Old Town Manassas with my family at some point over the break. We planned to go on that Saturday. I knew we were going to dinner and I figured we'd take pictures under the LOVE sign like we did last year so I made sure I had a cute outfit on. We get to the ice skating rink where my sister met us. We actually saw the hidden photographer (a friend of ours, Mihdi and his girlfriend Meaghan). We said hi and they told us he was taking pictures of Meaghan for fun. I didn't think much of it because Old Town Manassas is an iconic place to take pictures and she had just moved to Virginia. We were standing in the parking lot and I'm wondering why we aren't doing anything. I obviously didn't know that Brendan had his family there and were giving his family and Mihdi time to get in place. My sister faked a stomach ache and asked me to come to the bathroom with her so I would stop asking questions and to give everyone a little time. When we get out, we go over to the LOVE sign to take pictures. First my mom and dad, then my dad and sister, then it was going to be Brendan and I but Brendan was texting like a madman. My dad came over to take a picture with me, while I'm thinking that Brendan can put his phone down for 3 minutes to take a pictures. Brendan comes over to take a picture and then after the picture he turns me, takes me hands, says the sweetest words and proposes! I couldn't stop crying. When I looked to my family, Brendan turns me to see his family there too! It was the best moment of my life so far and I couldn't have ask for a more surprising and perfect proposal!