Let’s rewind to the fall of 2011… Adele was dominating the radio, Instagram was barely a year old, and Jon Snow (plus a few dragons) had just taken over our TV screens. It was also the fateful semester when Carolyn and Nick first crossed paths—in a brutal accounting class at USC (Go Cocks!). Carolyn noticed Nick almost immediately—something about his quiet confidence (or maybe just the fact that he looked completely lost in accounting) caught her eye. She tried to strike up conversation, but their interactions mostly revolved around homework and exams. Meanwhile, Nick remembers Carolyn as focused, driven, and—despite his best efforts to be charming—totally uninterested. Whether it was missed signals or just bad timing, nothing romantic sparked between them. And when Carolyn moved to Orlando in early 2012, they drifted apart, each moving on with their lives, unaware that this was only the beginning of their story. It may seem like all hope was lost, but thanks to the invention of Hinge and a thousand little life decisions, fate brought Nick and Carolyn back together almost a decade later...and with one swipe to the right (his, to be clear), their "storey" began. Their first date was at Iron Rooster, where Carolyn nervously talked about dogs and her nieces & nephews for over two hours, and Nick dutifully listened and nodded his head at all the right times. To her shock (and delight), he asked her on a second date that same day, and just like that, a second chance turned into something real. After 3.5 years together, Nick proposed to Carolyn in September 2024 in the stunning Rose Gardens of El Retiro Park during their two-week adventure in Spain. They celebrated with plenty of tapas and cava, but couldn’t wait to get back to Annapolis to share the news with their family, friends, and of course—their favorite pup, Jax. Nick & Carolyn feel incredibly lucky to have such amazing people in their lives, and they cannot wait to celebrate with all of you on November 7th. So go ahead, hit that RSVP button, and let’s get ready to paaaartaaay! "Love is space and time measured with the heart" -Marcel Proust