We matched on not one, not two, but three dating websites before Rachel finally worked up the nerve to reach out to Lauren. Shortly after that we met at the Attic bar in downtown Toledo where we sat and talked for more than five hours. The second date had to wait until after Rachel finished her residency interviews two weeks later. We have been together ever since.

I was in the process of moving back to Toledo and decided to propose in the same apartment building I was living in when we first met, just feet from where we shared I love yous for the first time. I told Rachel we were going out for my birthday later that night so we should both dress up a bit. I came in from work with my hands full with stuff from my car and asked her to help me. She grabbed a shoe box from my hands and I asked her to look inside to see what was in the box. She did, took one look at the ring and slammed the lid closed. She said "I'm not supposed to see that" and threw it on a nearby table. I said, no we're doing this now, and before I could even get any words out she was excited and said yes.

Because of the ongoing pandemic, we have decided to get married in my sister's backyard with only immediate family in attendance. We will be setting up virtual ways to participate in the wedding however and would love for you to join us.