Tom and Laura had their first date in 2013 at a local Miami pizza joint. They quickly realized that they shared a love of Scotty's - a local dive bar tucked into a Coconut Grove marina. At Laura's suggestion, they continued their date there. With twinkle lights above, a live band playing Eagles covers, and a bucket of beer to share, Tom and Laura both realized they were on to something good. And the rest is history!

Laura is intelligent. Too intelligent. She knows when I am up to something and previously foiled a proposal plot. Not this time! I had developed the perfect plan: have no plan. She cannot figure out what I’m doing if I, myself, have no idea what I’m doing. Miami is a special place to us, so I wanted it to happen during our momentous trip there for Laura’s graduation. I anxiously broke my semi-plan to her parents while celebrating Dr. Bouchard at the Rusty Pelican. The semi-plan was to propose the next day (Friday) during lunch at Scotty’s Landing, the site of Part 2 of our first date. Laura’s mother would be in possession of the ring as to prevent any obvious objects in my pockets. With the semi-plan set, we proceeded on to our lovely dinner at the Red Fish Grill. All three of us kept sneaking glances at Laura’s ring finger, for we knew it was the last time it would be bare. Laura woke up to a beautiful Friday overlooking Biscayne Bay and requested a walk around Brickell Key, which was our walking spot two years prior when living together. The plan changed. As Laura got ready, there were quick conversations and ring exchanges happening just outside the bathroom door. In the midst of our shuffle, we forgot to inform her father of the audible. We apologize! We headed to the key on the beautiful, yet hot, Friday morning. I patiently waited for the perfect situation to present itself. Luckily, it occurred quickly as we approached a bench overlooking Biscayne Bay with the Rickenbacker Causeway in the distance. I suggested we sit on the bench for a break, but Laura jumped up on the sea wall to look for sea creatures. This was it! I gave the look to her mother who passed over the wooden box. I jumped up next to Laura on the sea wall with a massive smile on my face. Neither of us remembers what I said, and we cannot remember if she even provided a confirmatory response. We did not care, for we were both so happy to have finally reached the beginning of our lives together.