We first met during a research internship at the Kellogg Biological Station in Hickory Corners, Michigan. We became close friends during our internship but never imagined that we would end up dating and then getting married!

After 2 years of friendship, Nico and other friends (shoutout to Addie, Bibi, and Peter) came to visit me in Annapolis, Maryland for a New Year's celebration. We still fight over who kissed who first: Nico swears that I kissed him first at 12:00 am and I swear that Nico kissed me first long after we welcomed the New Year.

Four years after our first kiss, we celebrated the New Year in downtown Burlington, North Carolina. After ringing in the New Year by the fire on our apartment rooftop, we went inside where I was surprised to find beautiful and romantic decorations. At that moment Nico proposed (and I said yes!). The next morning, we walked to our favorite brunch spot and I was surprised by both of our parents and my Matron of Honor, Kayla. It was just the proposal that I had always dreamed of.