AMANDA

Connor and I met our freshman year of Marist College in history class. On the first day, we briefly chatted after class ended and walked back to our dorms together in the rain. I, of course, was prepared with an umbrella and he was not, so we shared mine for part of the walk. I had a tingly feeling in my stomach as I laughed at his silly jokes and teasing. He made me a little nervous, and I believe I told my roommate I had an awkward conversation with a boy once I got back to my dorm. Regardless, I was happy to have made a new friend... never thinking it would be my future husband.

CONNOR

Heading into my first class at Marist I felt two distinct feelings: 1) a curiosity for what the class would be like and who would be in my class and 2) an insecure need to put on a sort of bravado - to look or seem cool to my future peers. Walking in I sat at the front of the class, which I guess in hindsight was not a “cool” thing to do, next to this brown-haired girl. I remember it was raining out and she was wearing these pink patterned rain boots that a lot of girls in my high school used to wear and that connection brought me some sort of comfort. I remember thinking, “Oh, she must be like other girls I went to high school with and know.” I thought she was cute and while I don’t exactly remember I’m sure I made some dumb dad jokiesh remark at some point in the 40 mins.

Sitting behind her was another future friend, Hannah, who struck up conversation with both of us and the three of us started chatting. Our eccentric professor Dr. Arslanian started up class - which was the History of the Middle East - and while I don’t remember much of the first class put I do remember her taking diligent notes in her pink notebook - a future sign of the girly nerdiness I have come to love.

After class I remember the three of us walked from Fontaine (the hall the class was in) back to the freshman year dorms with Hannah leaving first to go to her dorm Marian. Amanda and I walked back towards the other dorms (Leo and Champ) together and while I don’t remember the conversation I do remember the general awkwardness, but it was enough to keep me interested!

BOTH

As the year progressed, so did our friendship, but it was not until sophomore year that we began dating. We ended up going through all four years of college together, learning and growing, traveling the world, and eventually turning into (somewhat) real adults somewhere along the way.

The rest, as they say, was history!

Fast forward to now, Connor proposed back at Marist, in the exact classroom we first met, a true full circle moment. We are so excited to get married right alongside the same Hudson River that Marist sits on, as it has become so meaningful to us and our love story. We cannot wait to celebrate the occasion with all of our loved ones (YOU!).