Justin and Karen met on Tinder. Yay, Tinder! After a few Tinder conversations about food (cheese), education (cheese), and sustainable living (think farms and cheese) Justin asked Karen out. The trek across the river for their first date, Labor Day 2016, was the start of a wonderful courtship (and, yes, there was cheese involved).

In the months leading to the engagement, the couple traveled along the East Coast exploring and making time to share the excitement of their blossoming love with family and friends. Time spent together was alway easy and joyful, even if it was often brief. Karen enjoyed time grading papers and completing graduate school work at Society Fair, while watching Justin work his cheese magic. Meanwhile, Justin became a fan of Thursday night dinners at the Pedri house. Day trip adventures and Sunday night dinners, which were often followed by a trip to Fort Washington National Park, are some of the couples favorite times together.

A picnic at Fort Washington National Park was on the couples to-do list since early spring but, it never quite worked out. Justin made a promise, to himself, that he would propose before summer's end. Luckily, Karen's trip to Michigan gave Justin the time he needed to meet with Karen's parents and ask their permission to have their daughter's hand in marriage. So finally, on the Potomac River's edge, after months of planning and waiting, a sunset picnic is where Justin popped the question and Karen happily said, "Yes!"