We're getting married!

Sarah had been living in DC for a little over 2 years and was living with her friend Kristen at the time. Kristen started out as a totally random roommate and grew into a great friend. Tanner had only been living in DC for about 3 months when his friends Kellyn and Freddie decided to visit him. Kellyn knew Tanner was new to the city and wanted to help him make friends. She knew only one other person in DC and it was a friend from college...that friend was Kristen. Kellyn put Kristen and Tanner in contact with one another thinking they may get along and become friends. Kristen invited Tanner, Kellyn and Freddie over for dinner while they were in town visiting. Sarah happened to be home that night and decided to crash Kristen's dinner with her friends & that was the very first time Tanner and Sarah met.

Tanner and Sarah began dating in January of 2020...which meant there was very little time to have a "normal" dating experience before COVID hit. Early on in their time dating, they discovered just how much they love to go and picnic together. The National Arboretum, in DC, quickly became one of their favorite spots to go. The day before the proposal: Tanner had arranged for the whole family to come into town for the big weekend. So the day before...all of the Dickert family (Steve, Donna, Erin, May) and all of the Waldron family (Jim, Kristen, Nick, Carrie) flew into DC. Completely oblivious to anything going on, Sarah made plans to hang out with her friend Adya for the night. The day of the proposal: On October 2 2021, Tanner suggested that they go and take a picnic to the arboretum. The weather was supposed to be amazing that weekend and it would be the first time they could take their new puppy, Lyla, to the arboretum with them! Sarah agreed without hesitation. As they made their way to their favorite picnic spot, Tanner began to lay out the picnic blanket and Sarah immediately sat down. Tanner simply asked her to stand up so that he could ask her something. Long story short, she said yes! Immediately after, the Dickert's and Waldron's ran out from the bushes where they had been hiding waiting for the proposal! Sarah's best friends Lindsey and Liz had both made their way to DC that morning and friends, Adya, Ryan and Matt were also there to help celebrate! It's officially official - the National Arboretum is the BEST picnic place in all of DC!