Even though neither of us thought we'd find love on a dating app, swiping right on Hinge worked for us! We met at a beer garden in D.C., and we talked all night about UVA Basketball and the Nats. Will was late, Vannessa ordered him an IPA, and the rest is history.

Will planned the best surprise proposal at Veritas Vineyard in Charlottesville, VA. With both of our families watching from the balcony, Will got down on one knee and asked Vannessa to marry him. It was the most beautiful and unforgettable day.

We planned to have a long engagement even before the COVID-19 pandemic. Vannessa has been working on her Doctoral degree and wanted to be done with coursework before the big day. Thanks to Will's never-ending support and patience, Vannessa will be done with courses this summer! We moved to Charlottesville in March and are loving our new life here. We miss our friends in D.C., Arlington, and Roanoke but are so excited for this next chapter in our lives.

We have two dogs who are very much the center of our world. Vannessa adopted Hank, a beagle-pitbull mix, in 2016 from the Roanoke SPCA. Will met Hank after the first date and was immediately smitten. Four years later, Vannessa somehow convinced Will to let them "foster" another dog through Pet Rescue Alliance. 24 hours later, they were signing paperwork to adopt a big, goofy black-lab mix. We named him Bennett after Tony Bennett (GO HOOS!).