October 23, 2027

Like many modern love stories, ours started on Bumble… but not exactly quickly. Michael likes to remind Catherine that she ignored him for four months before finally agreeing to meet in person. (Persistence pays off, apparently.) When she finally said yes, Michael planned to pick Catherine up and head to Rocky Mountain Pizza near Georgia Tech. Catherine, however, was not about to get into a stranger’s car. But it was raining… and she also was not about to walk two blocks. So naturally, she forced him to drive back to the dorm and pick her up anyways. Michael first showed up in his military uniform (which he technically wasn’t supposed to wear out), so he quickly changed… into sweatpants and a mismatched t-shirt. Not exactly a fashion statement or dressed to impress but somehow, it worked. At the bar, conversation came easily. Michael made Catherine laugh the entire night, confirming Michael's long-held belief that “funny guys are dangerous.” One of Catherine’s favorite moments was when Michael tried to ask the server a question, got completely ignored, and casually said, “Okay, call you back.” From there, the night only got better. On a whim, they decided to go to a comedy show, where they were promptly picked on by the comedian and laughed harder than either of them ever had before. Not ready for the night to end, they continued exploring Atlanta together into the early morning hours. After that first date, they were inseparable—spending nearly every day together for two straight weeks before Michael deployed to England. During those two weeks, Michael hung out on Georgia Tech's campus, eating Chick-fil-a and attending Catherine's psychology course (where he even took a pop quiz). He later named Catherine's contact "pop student" to remind him of the event. He likes to change contact names to stories, in case you didn't know that about him. What started as a long-delayed Bumble match quickly turned into something neither of them could imagine living without.

Michael and Catherine first connected in September 2022, though they did not officially meet in person until the end of January 2023. After instantly hitting it off, they officially began dating in February 2023. Just two weeks later, Michael deployed overseas to the United Kingdom. Despite only having a short amount of time together before he left, Catherine knew there was something special about Michael and decided their relationship was worth taking a chance on — even if it meant long distance. As spring break approached, Catherine decided to fly across the world to visit her very new boyfriend in England. There was just one problem: her passport had expired. Determined to make the trip happen, she worked quickly to get it expedited, and it arrived only days before her flight. To thank those who helped her, she baked them a key lime pie. When Catherine landed at Heathrow Airport, Michael picked her up in what could best be described as his “BMW beater.” Between the stick shift and driving on the opposite side of the road, the nearly two-hour drive back to base was an unforgettable experience. Future trips definitely did not include another four-hour airport pickup, to and back. While Michael worked during deployment, Catherine spent much of her time independently exploring the area, even taking solo train trips into London to visit museums, Buckingham Palace, historical landmarks, and, to try the authentic fish and chips. Michael would join her in the city after work, beginning what would become many adventures together. Because of school schedules and finances, Catherine was only able to visit every several months. One of her biggest trips began with a visit to family in Senegal, where her Aunt Dana, Uncle Joe, and cousin Emma were living abroad. During her stay, she explored local markets, practiced speaking French, tried new foods, visited the U.S. Embassy, and even went on a safari where monkeys famously stole a banana from her hands. From Senegal, Catherine flew back to the United Kingdom to reunite with Michael before the two set off for Greece. They explored Santorini by ATV, rented a boat, tried local foods, and later visited Athens to see the Parthenon and rooftop city views. Their travels continued through Scotland and Ireland, where they explored castles, museums, nightlife, the Guinness Factory, and even added a new tattoo to the memories. After weeks of traveling, Catherine and Michael finally returned to Michael’s apartment in Peterborough, where they spent another week enjoying a slower pace of life together. During this time, Catherine became more comfortable exploring the city on her own while Michael worked during the day. The two quickly found a favorite local pub just a two-minute walk from the apartment, where they spent many evenings together unwinding after long days. It was there that they met Steve, the pub owner from Texas. Between his southern hospitality and impressive selection of high-ABV beers, Steve quickly became someone they both adored. In a foreign country far from home, his kindness and welcoming personality made the pub feel familiar and comforting. What started as casual visits for drinks soon turned into a meaningful friendship, and Steve remains a dear friend to both Catherine and Michael today. There were also difficult moments throughout long distance, where Catherine and Michael deeply missed each other and counted down the days until their next trip together. Even during the harder periods apart, having another adventure to look forward to always reminded them that the distance was worth it. It opened the opportunity for countless adventures, lifelong friendships, and a love story that will last a lifetime. And after a year and a half of long distance, the couple finally moved in together, where they continue to plan their next adventure together.

The proposal was a long time in the making, filled with planning, secret keeping, and plenty of surprises. Michael began his mission in January 2026 after deciding Catherine was the one. His first step was asking her parents, Anne and Dan, for their blessing. Then came the ring. Fortunately, choosing a style wasn't difficult. Catherine had spent most of their relationship reminding anyone who would listen that she wanted a "size 7.5, silver, marquise-cut diamond." Subtlety has never really been her thing. Rather than purchasing a ring from a jewelry store, Anne and Dan wanted to create something more meaningful. Anne brought her own engagement ring to Addington Jewelers, owned by Alyona and David Addington, the parents of Catherine's lifelong friend, Katya. Together, they transformed it by replacing the original diamond with a marquise-cut stone while preserving the silver band and baguette accents. The result was a one-of-a-kind ring that was everything Catherine had dreamed of while carrying a special piece of family history. As the proposal approached, Michael slowly let trusted family and friends in on the secret. Coby and Steven were recruited to capture photos and video, while Katya helped coordinate the location and create the perfect excuse to get Catherine there. Two months before the proposal, Katya convinced Catherine to keep a Friday free for what was supposedly a styled photoshoot with a Russian makeup artist. The night before, she even came over to do Catherine's nails, encouraging her to choose a lighter color because it would "photograph better." Looking back, every little detail was part of the plan. The next morning, Catherine met Katya for Starbucks before spending nearly three hours getting her hair and makeup done. Dresses had even been purchased from TJ Maxx to make the photoshoot feel authentic. Meanwhile, Michael was pretending to be at work, grabbing breakfast with friends, and making final preparations—including getting Hazel to the surprise celebration later that afternoon. Once ready, Katya drove Catherine to Old Mill Park in Roswell. As they carefully made their way down the rocky trail to the waterfall, Katya and Maria casually discussed the proposal in Russian right in front of Catherine, who had no idea what they were saying. As Catherine waited, she started wondering where the photographer was. Then she spotted Steven and immediately wondered why one of Michael's friends was there. Seconds later, Michael appeared, followed by Coby. Everything suddenly made sense. Michael got down on one knee, shared a few heartfelt words, and asked the easiest question Catherine has ever answered. She said yes. After slipping the ring onto her finger, Catherine's first response was to lovingly call everyone involved "liars" for keeping the secret so well. From her parents to Katya and Michael's friends, everyone had played their part perfectly. After celebrating with a few photos by the waterfall, the newly engaged couple headed to one final surprise: an engagement party with many of the people who had helped make the day so unforgettable. What started as a "photoshoot" became one of the happiest days of our lives—and the beginning of our forever.