“Do you wanna be a thing?” While most love stories might begin with a “once upon a time”, Katie and Brandon’s began at a college party in Towson. When Brandon first met Katie, he immediately hugged her and introduced himself as “BJ.” While Katie was initially taken off guard, she found herself smiling as Brandon instantly made her feel at home. After they spent the night playing beer pong and quoting Remember the Titans, they realized that they might be good partners on and off the pong table. They quickly bonded over their same favorite TV show, How I Met Your Mother. One night, Katie and Brandon decided to whip up How I Met Your Mother’s famous “sumbitches” cookies. On the way walking to Royal Farms to pick up some Rolos for the cookies, Brandon asked Katie, “Do you wanna be a thing?”. Katie was so excited that she didn’t realize she never actually gave Brandon an answer before saying “yes” right as she got in the car to make the drive back home to Beltsville. And that became the start of their “thing”. A general, but a perfect word to describe all the great “things” they would experience together over the next 7 years. Whether it was sharing a cold Bud Light or glass of champagne, trips together, or family game nights, they realized that this “thing” was something really special. When Brandon spent countless evenings holding Katie’s hand as she battled cancer, they realized that this “thing” might be one that should last forever. On their 7 year anniversary, Brandon surprised Katie and proposed in their apartment as Taylor Swift played in the background. With family waiting to celebrate with them, they toasted to making this “thing” something that will last a lifetime. How I Met Your Mother’s Barney Stinson once said, “Whatever you do in this life, it's not legendary unless your friends are there to see it.” Brandon and Katie cannot wait to have their friends, family, and loved ones help make their wedding day legendary on November 5, 2022.