While Riley and I (Reid) met for the first time about 2 years ago at a dinner party with mutual friends in D.C., we really got to know each other at a Willie Nelson & Zach Bryan concert in September 2022. However, I didn’t ask Riley out then because I was about to work out of town for the next two months. While I was gone, I decided that I would ask Riley out the first time I saw her once when I got back to D.C.. We were both at the same happy hour the Friday before Thanksgiving, and I asked her to go on a date once we both got back into town. We went on our first date the following Saturday, and then three more dates that week. In the weeks before Christmas, we spent time together almost every day — Christmas parties, shopping for presents, a performance of A Christmas Carol (which is when we decided to become “official”), and late night drinks at The Eastern defined that time for us. We grew to understand and appreciate our shared faith, different life experiences, and our growing friendship. Over the next few months we grew together quickly. We discovered our shared love of good food and enjoyed exploring the D.C. restaurant scene. We traveled together to friends’ weddings, to visit each other’s families, and to New York City. All the while, falling in love and realizing how much we loved life with each other in it! Since the beginning, both of us were clear about dating with the intent of marriage. In July, I reached out to the Huntsville jeweler, who made my mom’s 25th anniversary ring, to design a ring for Riley. Then in August, while on a work trip, I drove up to the Mohorc’s ranch and asked her mom for her blessing to marry Riley. One of our favorite things to do in D.C is to walk around the Capitol and the National Mall. Over the summer, we made a habit of stopping by the Bartholdi Fountain. I planned a date night for August 30 before going to Texas to attend the first Baylor football game with friends. I suggested to Riley that we go on a walk before our dinner reservations. When we got to the Bartholdi Fountain, I got down on one knee and proposed. You probably know by now that she said “yes!” After the wedding we are staying in Northern Virginia and are excited to be able to share a commute to Capitol Hill.