Megan and Brian met after signing up for a community service trip while attending Winthrop University in South Carolina, fall of 2016. In preparation for the week-long trip, their group held several meetings to get to know one another and review the itinerary—laying the foundation for a connection that would grow into something much more. Before their community service trip even began, Megan and Brian had already started dating. Megan and Brian began dating in November of 2016 and officially became a couple on December 11, 2016. That milestone came after Megan playfully asked Brian if he’d be going home to tell his parents that he had a girlfriend—marking the sweet and humorous start of their relationship. They continued their relationship throughout college, growing closer as they made lasting friendships through various sports and club activities they joined both together and individually. Their shared experiences and strong support for one another helped shape a meaningful and memorable college journey. Megan and Brian graduated from college together in May of 2019 and took the next big step in their journey by moving into their first apartment together that October. Living in South Carolina sparked their love for the outdoors, leading to countless adventures hiking, kayaking, and paddle boarding down the river. As life grew fuller, they expanded their little family by welcoming two fur babies, Modelo and Noda—who, by sweet coincidence, share the same birthday exactly one year apart. Brian and Megan have grown not only as a couple but also within each other’s families. In 2020, during the height of COVID, they moved back to Pennsylvania and stayed with Megan’s parents, where they “crashed” for just under two years—sharing laughter, support, and plenty of memories along the way. In 2022, the Hillhouse-Rittenberry family was ready to return to South Carolina, so they moved back to their original apartment complex in Lake Wylie, where they met even more people to join their extended family. Fast forward a year—Megan and Brian were staying at a cabin in Bryson City, North Carolina, with some friends and their fur babies. Little did Megan know, this was the weekend Brian planned to propose. But, as often happens, things didn’t go quite as planned: Brian forgot the ring and had to call their friends to break into their apartment to retrieve it. Then, on the day of the proposal, June 10, 2023, Brian discovered that the original proposal spot was closed to the public. Thinking quickly, he came up with a backup plan, and they headed to a new location close by. While taking pictures near a creek and small waterfall, Brian asked Megan to be his forever. They are now happily settled in a house in Clover, with an almost 2-acre yard for their dogs to run and enjoy, providing a peaceful escape from the nearby Charlotte city life. Now, after being together for 10 years and engaged for 3 of those, they are finally getting married.