We're getting married!

Our story technically begins in 2009, when we first met and "dated" in middle school. And by "dated," we mean seeing each other only in between classes, only speaking through texts, and pretending to not be terrified of talking to each other in person. Yes, we first "dated" in middle school. No, it wasn't serious. Yes, it absolutely felt like a huge deal at the time. Shockingly, our middle school romance did not last, but even after our "breakup," we stayed friends. We stayed close all throughout school, surviving teenage awkwardness and whatever hairstyles were "in" at the time. Then, in 2014, timing finally aligned. We graduated high school, realized we were suddenly actual adults, and thought, “Hey, let’s try this again… now that we’ve learned how to hold a real conversation.” This time, the connection was real and full of possibilities. We've been together ever since! Navigating through the many life hardships - from college and career changes to going back to school - we've grown up together side by side through every challenge and every new chapter and all the everyday moments that have made us a team. In the summer of 2025, we went on a two and a half week European trip. We experienced great food, amazing sights, and getting to cross off so many "bucket-list" locations. We were at our last stop of the trip - Rome, Italy - and I had fully accepted that a proposal was not happening. Our second to last morning, we woke up at 4 a.m. to beat the crowds at the Trevi Fountain. We were running on nothing but vibes and pure determination. When we got there, we sat there and really took in the scenery. Brian asked a stranger to take our pictures and if they could get one of us throwing our coins into the fountain. I had forgotten my coin by our stuff and asked Brian if he had another coin for me. Instead of giving me one, he pulled out the ring - creating a forever moment, we will never forget. Right there, in front of the Trevi Fountain at 5 in the morning, he asked me to marry him. And suddenly, the end of our European adventure became the beginning of the rest of our lives!