Lauren was scheduled to train me during my 2nd week of work and right after she got back from her annual family trip to the Outer Banks. Upon being introduced, I was immediately taken aback by not only her radiating beauty but also her smarts and wits. I remember trying so hard to seem cool and engaged and ultimately, charming and impressive.
After months of subtle flirting and using every opportunity I could to talk to her (mostly about work-related questions that I already knew the answer to), Lauren finally agreed to go to dinner with me. We went to a casual restaurant down in the Financial District, and the sparks continued to fly over margaritas and shrimp and grits (ordered obviously by me).
Our relationship quickly grew and we were both warmly embraced into each other’s lives through a series of weddings in the Summer/Fall of 2017. These were great opportunities to learn more about each other by meeting and spending valuable time with family and friends. It became clear to me that Lauren was a great catch and the people she kept close to her were also strong valued amazing people.
In February 2018, Lauren and I took the next step in our relationship and decided to move in together, heading across the river and into a brand new apartment and life together in Brooklyn. This was a new neighborhood for both of us and we were eager and excited to explore Brooklyn and a life together.
It didn’t take long for me to realize that Lauren was the one, but planning an engagement for a woman who spent the last 3-years telling me how much she “loved surprises” certainly posed its own challenges. After months of intricately planning the elaborate surprise and leaning on family and friends to ensure every detail was covered, the day finally came and under a full moon on Friday the 13th with the Brooklyn Bridge backdropped behind us, I asked the women of my dreams to spend the rest of her life with me and after a series of "oh my God" and "what is happening", I finally got a “Yes”.