It’s the year 2021, COVID is in its prime, how the heck are you supposed to meet people these days? I mean we are in the middle of a worldwide pandemic and there’s no where to go! Ashley opens up her dating App and matches with Brian.. maybe this one will work out.

We really don’t have a meet cute story. Brian’s pick up line was... wait for it... it’s so good...... “Hey what’s up?” lol and if you know Brian, this is a very Brian response. None of the cheesiness, just very straight forward and casual.

Ashley had gone on what seemed like over a dozen of dates with guys she met online, and they were just NOT it. Brian, however, was a lot luckier. Ashley was the first and last date he went on!

They went on their first date to Coughlin’s Law in Mt. Washington. It was raining. Ashley thought Brian was such a gentleman for thinking to bring an umbrella on the first date! We find out later he just happened to have it in his car haha.

Let’s be real, first dates are always awkward, but this one was fun and relaxed. Both really enjoyed getting to know each other. Brian thought Ashley was different than most girls, because she took him back to her house and offered him 5 different kinds of Flamin’ Hot snacks and made him race her in Mario Kart ‘64 all night long. Not your typical first date lol.

He was interested enough to want to pursue her, and they went on a few dates more. Everything just clicked. They were hanging out 2 days a week, 3 days a week, every weekend, and before you know it, a year had gone by, and they decided to move in together!

Ashley & Brian lived in Brian’s downtown apartment in Pittsburgh for a few months before moving into their now townhome in West View, 10 minutes from downtown Pittsburgh.

Brian and Ashley have talked about marriage plenty of times before, but Ashley had NO idea that Brian was going to propose when he did.

Brian and Ashley were at Brian’s parents house for dinner one weekend, when Brian and his dad mentioned going to dinner in 2 weeks for his mom’s birthday. His mom said that someone from her work had given her a gift certificate to the LeMont in Mt. Washington, so that they were just going there. That’s a pretty normal thing people do, go out to dinner and celebrate someone’s birthday. No one would ever suspect anything different, let alone a proposal on someone’s mom’s birthday!

October 1st, 2023: Proposal Day (from Ashley’s perspective)

It was Steeler Sunday, and Brian’s mom’s birthday dinner was tonight. The Steelers were losing big time, and Brian, a die hard Steelers fan, was shouting at the TV. I decided to go upstairs, catch up on my shows, and do my nails. My nails are always done, but for some reason this past week, they weren’t, and I just left them go. Thankfully, I decided to do them today. I went to pick out the ugliest two I had (I was saving the cuter ones for more special occasions/for when I THOUGHT Brian might potentially propose). I went to ask Brian which of the two nails I should pick: the BRIGHT neon green ones or the Harry Potter graphic themed ones. Brian said “uhhh I guess the green ones”. Brian comes upstairs later after the game and sits on the bed. He’s acting so strange, the strangest I’ve ever witnessed. I asked him what’s wrong and he says nothing, just the Steelers losing and a lot going on in his head with work and his studies. He’s still acting weird though. I tell myself it’s exactly what he’s saying, that he’s mad the Steelers lost, but I couldn’t help feeling that there was something wrong. I change and get ready, then we are on our way to dinner. Conversation is normal in the car and I feel better. We get to the restaurant and they ask us for our names and take us to our table.

If anyone knows Brian, he hates attracting unnecessary attention to himself. I see the table from afar and noticed it was decorated with balloons. Me, still 100% thinking this is for his mom’s birthday, I look at Brian and say “Awe look, your dad got balloons for your mom’s birthday! See, it’s not that weird to make a fuss for people’s birthdays in public!” We walk closer, I notice 10 chairs. “Brian, why are there so many chairs for 4 people?” It started to click. The balloons were of big diamond shaped rings. He gets down on one knee and said said the sweetest things.. sorry that part is private 😉 and then he proposed. Next thing you know, all of our parents came walking out from behind the scenes just elated for us. It was honestly the most magical and special moment of my life❤️