We can't wait to celebrate!

We've known each other since middle school and our paths crossed often growing up. Sometimes it was on Rutherford Road when Andrew was visiting a friend who happened to be Nicole's neighbor, running around the soccer field at the Montclair "bubble" during winter clinics, and in the hallways of Ramapo Ridge. We went our separate ways for high school, Andrew became a Crusader at Bergen Catholic and Nicole remained a Thunderbird in Mahwah. Soon after graduating from the University of South Carolina, Andrew moved to Hoboken. Following Nicole's graduation from Lafayette she moved back home to Mahwah and started graduate school. It was the first weekend in April of 2016 and Nicole was kicking off her birthday celebrations. She decided on Hoboken as it was a little less intimidating than NYC. For Andrew, it was just another Friday night hanging out at the bar with his friends. Standing in the crowded (now closed) Cadillac Cantina, Nicole was startled by someone jumping on her back. To her surprise there was her middle school crush, drink in hand with a big smile on his face. Andrew used social media platforms to reach out, before finally asking Nicole for her number a few months later. What prompted him to do so? Nicole expressed interest in trying the plate of meatballs he sent a picture of through SnapChat.

Connie Lee was doing what she does best- hosting a dinner party! This one was for the McGuire's. Andrew was quiet on the car ride up to Mahwah but Nicole assumed it was the result of a long day studying. Upon arrival we were welcomed with a Richard selected glass of wine and a classic Connie spread of assorted cheeses, eggplant parmigiana, imported prosciutto and mortadella, homemade caponata, bruschetta, fresh mozzarella... and those were just the appetizers! After the antipasto course Andrew suggested we go for a walk, which was strange because Nicole's always the one to ask. She said no because the pasta course was coming next and we couldn't miss baked ziti with eggplant! Everyone ate their pasta and we finally headed out for a stroll. On the walk Nicole questioned Andrew about when a proposal was coming and he simply replied "it could be sometime in the fall, in the winter, you'll just have to wait and see." We continued along our normal route, talking about the exciting plans coming up the next few months. As we got closer to the house, Andrew started to slow down. He was talking about what coming home to Mahwah meant to him and how special this place has become. Nicole was walking ahead (frustrated that he had slowed down their pace) when Andrew placed his hand on her shoulder and said "I'm trying to talk to you!" He stepped in front of her, said something very sweet that neither of us can remember, got down on one knee, and within seconds Nicole said (or likely screamed) "YES"!