We're getting married!

Many years ago, Kaitlyn and Brian each made the perfect decision to attend James Madison University (JMU) after graduating high school. They were never fortunate enough to meet at school, but during their time at JMU they both developed lifelong friendships with wonderful groups of people. Through this network of JMU friends, Kaitlyn and Brian luckily began to cross paths at social events in Arlington, VA and D.C in the fall of 2017. There was instant attraction, but to be completely honest, not enough movement by Brian at first! It took four hangouts with their friends (and some very direct coaching) for Brian to muster up the courage and ask Kaitlyn on a date before she went home for Christmas. After that first date finally did happen at the All Souls corner bar in D.C., they both felt a spark and they headed into the holiday break knowing the feeling was mutual.

Since that first date, Kaitlyn and Brian have forged many happy memories together. Kaitlyn's love of travel has inspired the couple to go on three unforgettable vacations, including their first trip to San Francisco and Napa Valley in 2018, an amazing expedition to three Italian cities in 2019 and a nostalgia-filled romp through Walt Disney World in early 2020. They have also attended many professional sports games together, went as each other's dates at their friends' weddings, bonded with each other's families and even survived a pandemic together!

In 2020, Kaitlyn and Brian began to talk openly and honestly about their future. It was no secret how they felt about each other. Kaitlyn is the ultimate planner, and she knew Brian's intentions. Since they decided to go shop for an engagement ring together a little bit of the element of surprise was lost. But Brian still wanted to keep that ultimate planner on her toes and make sure the proposal location was a secret! On the afternoon of the proposal - dressed totally unsuspiciously in a blazer and khakis on a hot June day - Brian drove Kaitlyn to Stone Tower Winery, her favorite winery in Virginia, where the plan to propose was all set. He had also contacted Kaitlyn's friend Gabrielle (who had first introduced them!) and asked her to secretly arrive early and take pictures of the big moment. When the couple arrived, they were led up into the tower to sit at a private table. It didn't take long before Brian hurriedly stumbled through an excuse to get up and take a selfie with her, knelt down, and asked Kaitlyn to marry him. And she said yes not once, but twice!