It all began with an invitation to a group dinner that neither of us were particularly thrilled about. We had been asked by our friends to join a "group dinner" at a hibachi grill that was several couples and the two of us. But it wasn't exactly a setup either* - our friends just wanted to fill the table and who were we to say no to an adventure off-campus (and to shrimp being tossed in your mouth)? When we got to the first of several bus rides to the restaurant, all of our couple friends paired off and Lauren bravely sat next to this blond-haired stranger, making some sarcastic quip about how annoying our friends were. We talked the entire bus ride and when we got to the restaurant, we conveniently found a way to sit next to each other. We continued to talk through dinner and the bus rides home - bonding over tv shows and shared music interests. But it was when Lauren belted out an Enrique Iglesias song on a public bus that Paul knew he had to see this girl again. A week later, Paul asked Lauren on a date at a sushi restaurant in Georgetown, breaking his typical go-to date spot at crepe amour because he knew this girl was something else. In our typical indecisive ways, we would continue to go on dates and see each other almost every day for months without talking about the "relationship" word. Our friends would give us a hard time - but as everyone likely knows by now, we tend to do things in our own time. 12 years later, and our relationship has grown across 5 states, 2 continents, 3 graduate degrees, 20+ music festivals, and a dozen international trips. We have jumped out of planes and touched the ocean floor together. And last year, we hiked to the top of a volcano in the Azores where Paul spotted a quiet place for the two of us to go out on a canoe ride. In the middle of the crater lake, Paul asked Lauren to marry him. Lauren was so excited to say yes that she almost tipped the boat! We cannot wait to celebrate our wedding with all of our loved ones and friends who have supported us on this journey over the past decade. And Lauren will forever be grateful that against all her typical shy instincts, on that night many years ago she chose to sit next to the person who would become her best friend and life partner.

*Dean only gets 10% credit for introducing us