In August 2022, Todd had just started a new job at New Ecology, Inc. (NEI), when they had an all-staff outing at a local park. Ashley was a veteran staff member who had been at NEI for ten years. As the day went on, they interacted occasionally- chatting over lunch or taunting each other during the heated staff volleyball games. Over the next few months, Todd and Ashley continued as co-workers; they worked together on a project here and there (with co-working meetings often masterminded by Ashley). Finally, in March 2023, at a work conference, Ashley organized a team dinner for all traveling staff members - including Todd, because she was too nervous to ask Todd to dinner alone. That night, before dinner, Todd did had the courage to ask Ashley to join him for a drink at the hotel bar. And that then emboldened Ashley to ask Todd if he wanted to hang out awhile longer at the hotel bar, while the other staff members headed off the bed. They talked and laughed until nearly midnight - finally admitting they needed some sleep. The following day after the conference ended, Todd drove an hour outside of his way to drop Ashley off at the Worcester train station. Less than a week later, Todd and Ashley were texting daily and planning the next time that they could see each other - a four-hour drive between then did not make for easy coordination. But, for nearly a year, they were able to prioritize each other, driving back and forth almost every weekend to spend time together, each one working from living room couches and closet desks when necessary. In July 2024, fresh off a trip to Amsterdam to see Taylor Swift, Todd and Ashley took their two dogs, Layla and Otis, for a Friday evening work after work. Upon returning to the house, Todd asked Ashley to show him something in their vegetable garden. While Ashley was distracted by plants, Todd knelt down and proposed with a ring that he bought two days before. Ashley said an enthusiastic yes, and the wedding planning began! We can't wait to celebrate the start of our next chapter with all of you!