We're finally getting married!

Kristin was a second year and Kyle was a first year, both getting their MBAs at The University of Michigan. Kristin was a peer coach, someone first year's set up time with to review their resumes, conduct mock interviews, and offer just general recruiting support. Kyle booked an appointment to get his resume reviewed, fresh out of the military and with ambitions to recruit for banking and consulting. Kristin tore his resume apart - she reviewed it beforehand and there was more red mark-up than black text on that page. And for some reason, Kyle decided he wanted more, and a mock interview appointment was on the books.

A few peer coach sessions later and some run-ins on campus and at The Bus, Kyle saw Kristin on Hinge, a popular dating app. He debated matching with her, and decided to shoot his shot. He responded to one of her pictures: "Wait, this isn't Ross Recruit?" Kristin laughed, telling him later that was the best line she had gotten in a minute, so she couldn't not accept the match and see where things went. To explain the joke behind it, Ross Recruit was the platform students used to book time with Peer Coaches to review resumes and conduct mock interviews - which Kyle had used quite a few times to schedule time with Kristin. She accepted his match while home in New Jersey for Christmas break, and the two of them talked constantly. Kyle immediately realized he was interested - he never messaged anyone that quickly, or that much, before. Kristin was actually the one who ended up asking for his number to move off the app - she wanted to impress him with pictures of her Christmas cookies, and at the time, Hinge didn't have capabilities to send pictures. The first night of ski trip in Aspen, Kristin waited in the lobby with a container of cookies to share with Kyle in-person. They shared their first kiss the next night at an evening event, and saw each other a few times throughout the trip, making sure to plan a real date when they returned to Ann Arbor.

When they got back from Ski Trip, Kristin had four days until her 30th Birthday in Nashville. Kristin and Kyle had planned to get dinner that Wednesday before the craziness began. They went to a local gem in Ann Arbor, The Raven's Club, for some cool cocktails and dinner. As the official first date spot, 6 months later, Kyle got Kristin a necklace with the star map and coordinates of The Raven's Club - it will forever hold a special place in their hearts. Second official date, Kristin and Kyle took advantage of another Ann Arbor gem - Blue Lamma Jazz Club. Kristin was hesitant - she didn't really know much about jazz. But the venue was so cool and had a date package, so they enjoyed an app, some drinks, and ended the night with a chocolate cake. Kyle quickly learned that Kristin loved chocolate cake!! Third official date, we opted for an activity - bowling! Kyle picked Kristin up in his big truck and was surprised to see Kristin was waiting with a whole bag - of course she had her own bowling ball and shoes. Kyle was in for a real treat - not only is Kristin extremely competitive in nature, but as most people know, she was a championship bowler in High School. Kristin remembers soft launching a photo of Kyle throwing the ball down the lane; Kyle remembers starting to fall for Kristin, watching her passion, competitiveness, and drive for success. After these...Kristin and Kyle started spending all their free time together. There was a power outage in February before Spring Break, and Kyle's apartment got power back before Kristin's did. He left for his trip before hers, and he gave her his keys so she had a hot shower and heated space to enjoy before she left for her own trip. He remembers joking to his friends that he must trust this girl or something, leaving her with access to all his things! Safe to say she did not tear up the place. They chatted throughout their respective breaks, made things official, and the rest was history.

During Kyle's MAP project (aka consulting project at Ross), his team went to NYC for the week leading up to Saint Paddy's day. Only two months into dating...Kristin considered joining Kyle there for the weekend. It would be a good excuse to see her brother and sister-in-law, hang out in the city, and spend more time with Kyle outside of the Ross "bubble". And they went for it! Kristin and Kyle spent a fun weekend in the city, having dinner at new restaurants, going out for Saint Paddy's Day with Kristin's friends, and spending Saturday brunching and drinking with Kristin's brother and SIL. Safe to say things went well meeting the fam, because that very weekend Kyle professed his love to her - and while she wasn't ready to say it in the moment, Kristin knew she was starting to fall, too. Kristin spent the new week thinking about love. Ironically she went to her bridesmaid Jill's bachelorette party in Asheville that weekend. The perfect opportunity to ask a bunch of married or soon-to-be-married girls: how did you know you loved your partner? After a weekend of love, beer, and biscuits, Kristin knew when Kyle picked Kristin up from the airport after her trip, that she had something special to tell him. Kristin told him she loved him later that day.

Kristin and Kyle were on a two-week Italian vacation. Kristin had gotten her nails done for a wedding the weekend before, knowing that there could be a chance Kyle proposed, but she was not sure and at one point told both her friends and her sister that it wasn't happening, there is no way he could have pulled it off between graduation, moving to Chicago, and this trip. But little did Kristin know, some "family drama" Kyle had to pick up the phone to deal with or the "coffee chat with my Dad's employee" in Dearborn earlier this spring was all just a cover for operation: secure the ring. On the second day in Florence, Kristin and Kyle got up for a market tour + cooking class, where they were making fresh pasta and tiramisu. They were having so much fun, but Kristin could feel Kyle being a little distant. When they were eating, Kyle (in typical Kyle fashion) ate so fast and Kristin made a comment that she thought made him upset. He just felt off, but she couldn't put her finger on it. They finished the cooking class and did some shopping around town. The big plan for the evening was drinking a bottle of wine on the stairs of the Piazzale Michelangelo and watching the sunset with the rest of Florence before having a traditional Florentine steak dinner. They went back to the AirBnB to relax and reset - Kristin's stomach was bothering her so she just laid on top of the bed; she knew she had to change but into nothing special since they were just going to sit on some stairs outside, and she could always put something nicer on for dinner. Meanwhile Kyle spent an hour shaving and steaming his clothes, making sure he was put together in an outfit he knew Kristin would love - but she thought nothing of it and reluctantly changed into something different before they left the apartment. Kyle asked if Kristin wanted to take a cab to the spot - but the sun didn't set until 7pm and it was only 5pm - they had plenty of time, it didn't make any sense. But little did Kristin know, Kyle was just looking out for her, since Kristin always said she didn't want to be sweaty when proposed to. On the way through town, they stopped to take a selfie because Kyle said his family was upset with him for not taking enough pictures - really, it was for Kyle to send to the photographer he had set up so that he could know what we looked like when we got to "the spot". While walking up the hill to the stairs, the sweat started to drip. Kristin thought to herself - thank goodness he isn't proposing to her, she'd be a sweaty mess! The irony...! Kyle suggested they stop at a church on the way up there, since they still had time, and Kristin is always a sucker for a European church. As they walked into the space, they saw two photoshoots going on - one was for an engagement and the other for a pregnancy. But there was an extra photographer there, lurking in the background. A back-up for one of the other two? Waiting for another proposal? Nope, waiting for Kristin and Kyle. Kyle encouraged Kristin to take a picture with the beautiful background of Florence. As she turned around, after Kyle took a picture of her, she sees him on one knee, asking "Kristin Marie Ruffe, will you marry me?" Tears, laughs, smiles, and of course, YES! Safe to say Kristin was surprised. The rest of the night continued the high - a quick photoshoot around the area, a bottle of wine on the steps, quick Facetimes to family, and a fancy dinner / stay at a luxury hotel to celebrate the occasion. Kyle pulled off not only the best surprise, but the most perfect way to celebrate afterwards: they had the rest of their Italian adventure to soak it all in as newly engaged. Florence will forever hold a special place in their hearts, and they can't wait for a return trip.