We first met back in eighth grade at Weddington Middle School, and dated until midway through our freshman year of high school. Maintaining our friendship over our high school years, we reconnected during our freshman year of college and began dating again on November 18, 2012. The next five and a half years were nothing short of amazing, and although we attended rival colleges, we couldn't have been happier with our experiences together. Between tailgating at NC State football games, getting our favorite BLT sandwich at Merritt's Grill in Chapel Hill, attending numerous State Fairs, graduating and moving to a new city, becoming dog owners, and traveling near and far together, we've enjoyed every minute of life with each other.

We'd been trying to plan a trip to visit Italy for a number of years and finally got the chance to do so in September 2018. This was Lauren's first time traveling to Italy and both Lauren and Patrick's first time exploring the Amalfi Coast. Knowing that Italy is close to home for Patrick with his Dad's side of the family still living in Tuscany, he'd always considered proposing there one day. Lauren's a big fan of the beach and her family spends lots of time at Holden Beach, NC. Once they confirmed they'd be traveling down the Amalfi Coast, Patrick knew that Positano could be an incredible place to propose and would be a neat blend of both of their interests. Lauren and Pat spent the first week of the two week trip exploring Rome and Florence before visiting with his family in Tuscany and relaxing, enjoying great food and indulging in even better wine. Afterwards, they started the second week of the trip by staying two days in Naples and another two days in Sorrento before then heading to Positano to spend their final two days. Once they arrived in Positano, they had a few hours to enjoy the beach before "cleaning up for dinner", or so Lauren thought. Patrick told her that they were being picked up by water taxi to go to dinner as an excuse to get her to the proposal spot, which she picked up without any suspicion. At the designated time, they walked down to the ferry docks and Patrick saw their photographers, Barbara and Claudio, ready in the distance. Once the coast was clear, he asked them if they wouldn't mind taking a picture, which set the proposal into motion. Once the photographer set them up and gave Patrick his cue, he got down on one knee and proposed! Lauren was very much surprised and couldn't stop smiling as she said "Yes!".