Our story began on August 18th, when Dian planned the most thoughtful first date — rooftop dinner reservations at Birdie’s. Under the city lights, we shared laughs, stories, and that instant connection. After dinner, we went dancing and didn’t stop smiling all night. We even have a photo from that evening — a beautiful reminder of the night our forever truly began.

Our first year together was filled with new beginnings — moving in, taking trips, cheering at football games, and building our little family. Every moment brought us closer, filling our days with laughter, love, and memories we’ll always cherish. It’s been a year of adventure, growth, and pure joy — and it’s only the beginning of our forever.

We’ve kept our anniversary tradition alive by making Ruth’s Chris reservations each year — a little reminder of how it all began. I always thought it would be so special to keep doing this, even 50 years from now. We get all dressed up, share dinner, and end the night dancing — our favorite thing to do, just like that very first night. It’s our way of celebrating love, laughter, and the life we’re building together.

This year, we bought our first home together — a place where our dreams truly started to take shape. We made so many big decisions side by side, always knowing that what we wanted most was to build a life together. Every corner of our home holds a piece of us, and we love the life we’re creating within its walls.

Fun fact — we love shopping together. We can spend hours going from store to store, and it’s something that’s always brought us closer. So, when it came time for something as special as the ring, Dian said it wouldn’t feel right to make such a big decision without doing it together. We picked it out side by side, and I got to choose my absolute dream ring. The proposal itself couldn’t have been more perfect — Dian brought me back to the very spot where we had our first date. His hands were shaking, and his heart was racing, but it was the most beautiful, heartfelt moment. It felt like everything had come full circle — from that first night to forever.