Hilary + Jared were still in their medical training when they individually decided they were going to take a trip to Peru with the "Travendly" travel group. In March 2019 Travendly had set up a "What's App" group for everyone from the group to get to know each other. Jared sent Hilary a generic message saying "hey we both have a 4-1-9 area code" and a superficial conversation started. Hilary later that night went out to dinner with girlfriends, Angela Kim and Tiffany Mathias and made a blanket statement "you guys I found my future husband", semi sarcastically. They "creeped" on his social media pages which he did not keep private. Little did Hilary know Jared also did a little "creeping" on his own. April 20, 2019 was the fateful day they met in Peru, however it wasn't until some Pisco Sours, a 3 hour train ride (sitting next to each other), and some apple sauce packets that they truly became friends. April 24, 2019 they hiked Machu Picchu Mountain, and Hilary started to fall head over heels for Jared. As their travels progressed, they sat next to each other on every bus/van/train ride and from there on out, they were inseparable. Everyone on the trip knew there was a spark between them. However, they were both oblivious. Upon return to the United States, it only took Hilary one day, and "Margarita Monday" to confess her feelings to Jared. To her surprise he reciprocated those feelings, and they spent the next 4 hours talking on the phone, trying to figure out when Jared could visit her in Philadelphia. However with Hilary's impulsivity she booked a secret flight to Detroit 2 weeks later and they have been together ever since.

It was June 20, 20 when Jared & Hilary made it official. Unbeknownst to Hilary, Jared had ordered an engagement ring about a month earlier and shipped it to his parents’ house to avoid discovery. He had originally planned to propose 2 weeks later on July 4th, but could not wait. On that fateful summer day in June, Jared & Hilary had made plans to visit the Wooly Pig Farm Brewery with their friends Eric & Jen. The plan was simple: go to the brewery during the day then, in the evening, take a walk on the Scioto Mile (a site of many previous walks) and pop the question at North Bank Park overlooking the city. Eric & Jen had even agreed to sneak down ahead of time to take pictures of the proposal. A perfectly timed text from two other friends, Connor & Natalie (who were also in on the proposal) asking Jared and Hilary to meet at a downtown bar for drinks would serve as the perfect reason to “take a walk to kill some time.” The plan was running smoothly. Hilary hadn’t discovered the ring, which was in the center console of the car all day and agreed to a walk along the river after a long, hot day at the brewery. Jared had convinced her that walking from the bar to the house was impossible – a small lie. Jared purposely parked far enough away from North Bank Park to give Eric & Jen time to get in position to capture the moment. As it turned out, parking a mile away was almost too far. About half-way through the walk, Hilary complained of the heat, chaffing thighs, & asked if we could sit down or start to walk back. Having to think quickly, Jared stated he just wanted to see if the fountains were on (they were not). After dragging Hilary, reluctantly, the last 200 yards, they finally made it to the top of the steps of North Bank Park. Jared pulled the ring from his back pocket, got down on one knee, and proposed. Hilary doesn't remember saying “Yes,” but she did! June 20th was a magical day with a perfect ending; made possible with the help of some amazing friends. See Y'all in Columbus, OH