We are getting married!

Once upon a summer day in the heart of Cincinnati, two paths destined to intertwine finally did. Zachary, with a keen sense for adventure and a heart open to the stories yet written, made his first call to Laura on the 4th of July, where Zachary shared his passions for fireworks and sunscreen. It was only fitting that such a day marked the beginning of their story. Their first date was a picnic in French Park, a place where they shared their favorite Skyline chili with the picnic basket that Zachary brought. With the rustling of the leaves as their soundtrack, they found that conversation flowed easily as they walked around the gardens. This led to their next date at Mount Adams, where they went geocaching and hiked all the way up and down the steps. If you ever want to hear a good story, ask Zachary to tell you about the dragons and demons the couple experienced on this date! Zachary could tell Laura was interested when she wanted the date to carry on despite getting stung by a wasp. They bowled (quite poorly) at Pins Mechanical Co and shared prayer on the steps of Holy Cross Immaculata Church. At Goettafest, Zachary and Laura shared everything from their dating history to their shared faith. Zachary rode the mechanical bull that left Laura out of breath from laughing so hard. Their shared faith acted as a compass, guiding them through life's complexities and joys. While it may not have been love at first sight, once they fell in love, they fell hard. And the rest is history!

Our Adventure of a Lifetime: The Day We Got Engaged On the morning of August 19th, Zachary and Laura's journey began at the Auciello's home. A red Starbucks cup, a symbol of their many coffee dates and conversations, held the first clue of what was to become the most unforgettable day. At Starbucks, Laura sipped her favorite brew with her friend Nicole and uncovered a scratch-off that hinted it was time for a lunch filled with laughter at Skyline. There, her friend Margaret gave her a clue that led her to St. Gertrude's for adoration, followed by reflection during confession at Our Lady of Lourdes. After, the couple traveled to Zachary's friend Stephen's place for a collaborative puzzle with a picture revealing the next destination, dinner at Mei's. At Mei's, Laura was surprised with the company of friends and her favorite ramen noodles, setting the stage for the grand moment. Then, atop Mount Adams, on a park bench where family and friends lay in hiding, Zachary presented a scrapbook from Laura's favorite movie "Up." Page by page, it told the story of their year of dating, each memory accompanied by heartfelt words. Tears of joy flowed as Laura turned through the chapters of their love story. As they reached the end of the scrapbook, Zachary knelt on one knee, an engagement ring glinting as he asked, "Will you marry me?" Her answer, "I will," rang out as a promise to continue their journey together. A shout from Zachary signaled the family and friends who were hiding to emerge and share in their happiness. Amidst tears and laughter, they captured the moment with photographs, forever sealing the day they chose to adventure through life together. But the adventure was not over. A final wordle puzzle awaited Laura, challenging her to guess the last name she would soon share – Auciello. It was the last clue to the last destination: a celebration at the Auciello's, where friends from both of their lives gathered, ready to toast to their future. As they stepped into the embrace of their loved ones, Laura and Zachary knew their greatest adventure was only just beginning.