Our story began in the Summer of 2013 at Cupsogue Beach in the Hamptons. We were both in different relationships at the time. However, things heated up really quickly that day when Derik offered Stephanie to cool off with some "lava flows". Several "lava flows" later, two unfamiliar people became friends.

We try to make it a point to go out on dates every few weeks, so when he asked me to have a 'date night,' I didn't think much of it. On that night, he took me to Blue Hill, which we have been dying to try. After dinner and drinks, he suggested it was time to go home because we had a 'busy schedule' the next day. While we enjoyed our stroll back to our Great Neck home, Derik got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. He told me "he knew the first time he saw me that he wanted to marry me". I was speechless and eventually (5 minutes later and still no words) shouted, "YES!", and we were engaged. We can't wait to get married in the company of family and friends. We're so excited to celebrate this next chapter in our lives with you.