We’re getting married!!

When I first met Lauren, her and my sister were friends and roommates at LSU back in 2009. For as long as I can remember, Lauren and my sister Catie have been pretty inseparable since then and Lauren was frequently at our family functions and events. There was always an unspoken attraction between us but I didn’t dare say anything or do anything about it because let’s be real, who wants to go to war with their baby sister... Not I!!! 😂😂 Fast forward to the end 2020 and the wonderful year of Covid we had all had. I realized Lauren and I were working in the same city and we started chatting some. I asked her to dinner just to catch up as old friends and us both being foodies, we agreed upon Sake Cafe. We both had a wonderful time and it was clear to both of us by the end of dinner that this was the beginning of something truly special! On our second date, MacGregor tried to trip her with his leash on our sunset walk at the lakefront, then all he wanted to do after the walk was nuzzle her. So it was pretty clear that he liked her too. 2021 had so many changes!!! I bought my first home, I left my job of 15 years at New Orleans EMS to pursue non EMS related patient care, and Hurricane Ida damaged Lauren’s home and we were living together full time sooner than expected. I ended the year on one knee placing a ring on Lauren’s hand that contained her late grandmother’s engagement ring stone as the centerpiece. We’re so excited for y’all to be a part of our special day and the start of our new family!!!

Anyone that knows Lauren and I, knows we are both foodies and love to try new places. I had told Lauren the previous week that I wanted to take her to breakfast to try out Mattina Bella in downtown Covington. Although her least favorite thing to do ever is to get up early and she was whining all week about an early Sunday wake up even though I promised her it would be well worth it. We woke up early including her asking if we could go later or another day and got there just in time before the Sunday morning brunch rush arrived. Lauren ordered Eggs Melanzana and a Mimosa while I had the Iron Man omelette with a Bloody Mary. The food was absolutely delicious and we highly recommend it! Then we went for a stroll through downtown Covington and ended up in the lovely courtyard at the Southern Hotel. Lauren was looking at the mural by the pool when I called her name and I got down on one knee as she was turning around. Her sister-in-law Taylor and my childhood friend Ashley were hiding in the bushes to capture every moment, Lauren heard the shutter clicks and busted out laughing as she walked back towards me. I had to remind her she still had a question to answer as I held her beautiful ring which was created with the center stone from her late grandmother's engagement ring. She replied yes and I slipped the ring over her finger, both of us still laughing from her discovering the photographers hidden in the bushes. We exited the courtyard to meet up with Taylor and Ashley, and Lauren was again surprised with her brother Blake, mother Angie and her boyfriend Ricky. We celebrated with champagne and more photos in the courtyard and the beautiful Christmas tree before heading out to make all the family notifications and start researching venues for our big day. Shoutout to Ashley for always helping with my shenanigans including late night Total Wine runs and literally tucking herself into the ivy archway to get the shot! Taylor, thanks for the awesome close ups and keeping proposal secrets!