We're getting married

This all started and led to this point when we met for the first time during our college years at VCU. Andrew was student security at one of the on-campus dorms and Paula was a frequent guest visiting a close friend. We can both be thankful that VCU happens to be an urban campus that requires dorm guests to sign-in before entering, otherwise this maybe never would have been! While playing the diligent security guard signing her in, clearly being distracted chatting away, it was obvious we both had an interest in one another. One of those times Andrew finally asked her out. Queue the first date (obstacle running trail and then dinner), Andrew falling on his face trying to impress at one of the obstacle stations (so much for that hurdling in high school), and Paula being so impressed with his ability to recover from disaster that both knew it was meant to be!

Our proposal happened on a clear, sunny, and gorgeous day on a peak in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains. It was all an elaborately planned hike that just happened to be squeezed in (literally the next day) right before a big family trip to the beach. This timing didn’t help the surprise much (practicality questions were definitely asked), but after much convincing and a few white lies it was a go. We brought the dogs, some water, some snacks, a carefully hidden ring, and then embarked on a relaxing several hour hike to the Big Schloss peak. Overcoming both our fear of heights, and the slight bumbling of a carefully rehearsed proposal, the big surprise happened on a rock outcropping 2,964 feet above the ground! We both couldn’t have been happier! We’re so excited to celebrate this next chapter in our lives with you!