We are eloping in Positano, Italy!! At sunrise we will say our vows and pour our hearts out on the terrace of our AirBnB while over looking the Amalfi Coast. Following, we will have breakfast and head out for a private boat tour to snorkel and relax on the beach. Lauren is hoping for a shark or two, Shay is not.

We met in 2013 in our high school ceramics class, where both parties assumed the other was far too out of their league. So no one made a move. We stayed acquaintances for the next few years, waving in the hallway and on the occasion a, "Hi! How are you?" In 2019, Lauren moved back to Arkansas and transferred to the U of A. During her tour, we ran into each other. We caught up for a bit and both went on to talk about each other to our friends and family. It wasn't until Summer came around and Lauren walked into Lewis and Clark Outfitters for her interview that we finally officially reconnected. Shay to this day, will always claim he was the reason she got the job. Lauren begs to differ.

Shay surprised Lauren with a scenic plane ride around Beaver Lake and Bentonville for our 3rd year anniversary. Lauren, of course, was completely oblivious to the question coming her way. When we got into the plane the pilot told us, "If I tell you to shut up, it's nothing personal." Off to a great start! Oblivious, Lauren was just absolutely star struck by the views as we flew around Beaver Lake. Until... she got motion sick. While focusing on the horizon and praying she wasn't going to vom all over this incredibly romantic gesture, Shay is nervously waiting for the right moment to ask the big question. He kept pushing it back out of fear of being cut off by the pilot but eventually gave himself a cap to how long he could wait. After reaching this deadline, he taps on her shoulder and begins telling Lauren how much he adores her ;'-). The wind was loud and the mic had cut out, so Lauren, while continuing to stare at the horizon, gives Shay periodic head nods to give him the impression she's listening. The only thing she heard, "Will you marry me?" Now she's listening. Lauren, completely missing the gorgeous gorgeous ring in his hand, says, "Are you kidding?!". Shay, very confused, said, "no?!" and shoved the ring in her face. After a moment of utter shock (for what reason we will never know, she should have known it was coming) she said yes! and then kissed him :* right. on. the. microphone. That the pilot can hear. :) No story better explains us!