Lauren and Kevin first matched on Bumble in July 2018, just a few weeks after Kevin moved cross-country from Buffalo to Austin. The two quickly bonded over their love of dogs, enjoyment of hiking views, and the agony of the act of hiking itself. Ever the entrepreneurs, Lauren and Kevin brainstormed the initial plans for LoKe, a business that, in short, would add escalators to hiking trails for ultimate hiking convenience, with pop-up bakeries and dogs available for adoption all along the “hiking” trail. This potential billion dollar enterprise could not just be drafted over Bumble text messages however, so Lauren and Kevin met at Pinthouse Pizza one Friday night to hash out the details over pizza and beer. Lauren brought the business plan, Kevin brought the business cards, and just like that, LoKe was established on July 27, 2018. Within minutes of establishment though, it was clear to both Lauren and Kevin that the company wouldn’t last. Kevin loved Lauren’s smile too much, her creativeness, and ability to look incredible even when sitting outside on a 102 degree day; Lauren couldn’t resist Kevin’s amazing puns and his weird Western New York accent. Business would mix with pleasure, and pleasure would certainly win out. The LoKe business didn’t get off the ground after that July night, but Lauren and Kevin’s relationship only went up from there. Lots of things have changed in the years since: new jobs, new houses, new pandemic. The more things have changed though, the more they’ve stayed the same: Lauren and Kevin turned their love of dogs into a love of their own rescue dog, Luka. Kevin still loves seeing Lauren’s Cheshire cat-like grin. Lauren still thinks Kevin’s accent is weird. And on November 27, 2021, Lauren and Kevin, who started as LoKe business partners some three years ago, will exchange vows to be life partners, and they cannot be any more excited.

After 2+ years of dating, Lauren knew an engagement was coming, and she had Kevin all figured out: he was going to propose on a weekend hike with their dog by their side. It was so obvious. He couldn’t fool Lauren. Duh. Case closed. In what was the first time that Lauren had ever been wrong in her entire life though, she did not see the proposal coming. Like, at all. After Lauren went to work that Thursday, she didn’t know about Kevin placing pictures of them all throughout their house, the bouquet of flowers waiting for her at home, the champagne chilling in the fridge, or the Pinthouse pizzas to be delivered later that night. No, when Lauren got home from work that night, she saw by the door a sign titled “The Story of Us”. Lauren was suspicious, but only when she was greeted by Kevin, dressed in a button-down shirt, did she KNOW something was up. (A year into WFH, only on rare occasions did Kevin wear anything other than gym shorts and muscle shirts, so it was a dead giveaway that this would be a special night.) Kevin took Lauren’s hand and proceeded to walk her through the “The Story of Us” picture tour. A screenshot of their first Bumble messages. Their first picture together, at a local brewery. On vacation in Key Largo. In front of their first home. With their dog during the Texas Snowpacalypse. When Lauren almost killed Kevin go-karting. All these moments and more, accompanied by an explanation from Kevin on why they were important to him, to them. And each long-winded explanation from him met by a terse “OK” by a still-shellshocked Lauren, who was just trying to maintain her composure as best she could. The tour ended on the back patio, in front of empty picture frames, where Kevin told Lauren that he wanted to fill those empty frames with new memories: a wedding, a family, new adventures, with her. Kevin got down on one knee, and asked Lauren to marry him. Lauren snapped out of her surprised haze just long enough to say yes, and the rest is history.