Not just any wall, but one that needed a fresh coat of paint as part of a much larger effort—building homes for Habitat for Humanity. It was June of 2023 when Joanne, the property manager of the building Austin worked in, joined his company, Ameresco, for a volunteer day. The task assigned? Painting. Coat after coat on a long block wall under the summer sun. At some point, Joanne ended up with paint on her face—an occupational hazard, apparently. Austin didn’t hesitate to offer help, grabbing the hose from across the lot. After wrapping up for the day, Austin caught up with Joanne before she left, casually asking if she wanted to go country dancing. She said yes. But neither of them felt like waiting, so they met up for a drink that evening, only to realize they not only worked in the same building but also lived right across the street from each other. If nothing else, it made seeing each other again pretty easy. From that moment on, everything seemed to fall into place. By May of 2024, Austin proposed in beautiful and romantic Sintra, Portugal—a moment straight out of a storybook. A few months later, in October 2024, they bought their first home together, marking the next step in their adventure. Now, they invite you to celebrate with them as they begin this new chapter—one that started with a wall, a little too much paint, and perfect timing!