we're getting married!

It was a typical Saturday night at RJ Bentley’s—sticky floors, $2 rail drinks, and College Park chaos. Mikaila, at UMBC at the time and visiting friends at UMD for the weekend, wasn’t expecting anything special. Chris, on his fifth night out that week, thought he was just there for another round of drinks with the guys. But then it happened: across the crowd, they locked eyes. With some liquid courage, Mikaila made the first move to say hi (because she knew a good thing when she saw it). One cheesy pick-up line and a lot of laughter later, they hit it off. It took a year and a half of “figuring it out”, but eventually, they made it 'official'.

The last 8 years have been a whirlwind for Chris and Mikaila. College was an unforgettable adventure filled with late nights, tailgates, and lots of gyros from Marathon Deli. Then came COVID, and weekends meant traveling between their parents’ houses to spend time together. After graduation, they dove into full-time jobs while keeping up their weekend visits—a routine they’d perfected. By 2023, it was finally time for a change, and they moved into their cozy one-bedroom, one-bath apartment in Arlington. "Cozy" might be an understatement, but it was home. Then came 2024, the year of big moves, literally. Chris got a promotion, Mikaila started a new job, they bought their first home, and they got engaged! Now, they can’t wait for the next chapter—and to celebrate with everyone who’s been part of their journey!