We first crossed paths when Soph was starting her sophomore year of college. Like many couples today, we met on a dating app. Will showed up looking handsome, with a bouquet of flowers and flashing that sweet smile. Our first date was simple but perfect: we grabbed subs and watched the sunset from a dock by the river. There was definitely a connection between us. But our timing was off, so we decided to part ways, hoping that if it were meant to be, our paths would cross again. Two years later, by chance, while Soph was looking through her Instagram feed, she happened to see a familiar face; it was Will. On a whim, she decided to reach out. It turned out to be one of the best decisions she’d ever made. We met up the very next day, and after hours of conversation, it was clear that this time, things were different. When we weren’t busy going to school or work, we loved spending our free time together. During fall break that year, we took a trip to New York—a place Soph had always dreamed of visiting. The trip was unforgettable, and to make it even more memorable, Soph surprised Will with a yacht cruise of the city. It was on that tour, with the beauty of New York surrounding us, that we said "I love you" for the first time. We quickly became partners in adventure, visiting friends in New Orleans, exploring the sights in Florida and Boston, and taking countless weekend getaways. Along the way, we also tackled some big dreams together—renovating three rental properties and our apartment above a bar. You might be thinking, they live above a bar, we figured, why not? We’re only in our 20s. It’s been a whirlwind of travel, hard work, and making memories that will last a lifetime. In March of 2024, during spring break in the US Virgin Islands, we got engaged. We spent most of our days exploring the islands with Soph’s parents, we rented an amazing Airbnb in the bluffs that overlooked the Caribbean. We set aside one special day just for the two of us and went on a snorkeling trip. We swam around coral reefs, saw colorful fish, sea turtles and even a starfish. On our way back, as the sun was beginning to set, Will pulled over to take in the amazing view. Completely lost in the beauty of the moment, I didn’t even notice Will had gotten down on one knee. It couldn’t have been more perfect.