In Fall 2010, at a "Catalina Wine Mixer" themed college party (re-watch Step Brothers if you're unfamiliar), Katie met Mike while dressed in her version of "preppy" -- jeans and a borrowed men's brown and tan argyle sweater from her twin Sarah's closet. With red sangria in hand, Katie and Mike crossed paths over a lengthy game of competitive flip cup. At the end of the night, Katie leaned into Sarah asking "Who is that guy with the beautiful blue eyes?" and Mike had officially entered Katie's radar. Side note: Sangria flip cup is never a good idea. #catalinawinemixer #neverforget

After their chance meeting, Katie left RWU campus for the holidays, followed by a 5-month long study abroad program in Florence, Italy. While apart for so long after first meeting, fate stepped in senior year, when Katie lived just doors away from Gillary's Bar and a house Mike frequented often. With social proximity and the same graphic design classes (#serendipity), Katie and Mike spent many days and nights together getting to know each other and dancing the nights away to Annie Lennox.

It was their first Christmas in their first home together on Lovers Lane (literally, Lovers Lane). As snow started to fall outside the window, Katie and Mike took time to open their gifts together, before heading over for family time at the Mamula's. Since Katie had been collecting ornaments for the new tree, Mike had the brilliant idea of having her open one final gift. THE gift. Hidden inside an ornament Mike had hidden from Katie, was the ring. Timing it perfectly, Mike got down on one knee, opened the ornament and asked Katie to marry him. After a long hug, we called ALL the people: Mamulas, Johnsons, Raymos, Nybergs, Dziegielewskis - all conversations started and ended with loud excitement and we will never forget it!