The summer before starting our freshman year at Auburn University, Ben and I both attended Camp War Eagle, our freshman orientation, and happened to be at the same session. The night before it began, we met at a reception for campers and parents. During orientation, we ran into each other a few more times and on the last night, Ben asked for my number - offering to be of any help since he and his family were very familiar with Auburn. For the rest of that summer, we maintained a friendship over text and then began to spend time together when we had both returned to Auburn. Fast forward through Auburn football game days, Delta Gamma formals, spring breaks and weekend hiking trips in between - our relationship has grown over the past three years and we are so excited for what lies ahead. We have the most loving and supportive families who never doubted our love for each other, despite being from opposite sides of the country! This season of engagement has already been filled with so much excitement and we can't wait to celebrate our marriage this summer!

At the end of a busy weekend where I had been out of town visiting a friend, Ben asked me to get dinner with him at one of our favorite restaurants in Auburn, called Amsterdam. It had been a rainy weekend but the weather that night looked promising so Ben wanted me to meet him on campus, where he was there "studying", and we would walk to the restaurant which was just a block from campus. On the way, we walked through one of the prettiest historic parts on campus, which is where I lived freshman year, called The Quad. Ben started to slow down and I tried not to think anything of it but I was getting nervous! As we were passing by some benches under the trees, Ben said he had to tie his shoe - so we stopped. Then, he got down on one knee and completely surprised me! And of course, I said yes! That place will always be so special to us and I am so glad we will be able to cherish it every time we are back in Auburn.