Connor and Ellen are high school sweethearts, first meeting in their freshman year English class at Turpin High School. Their crushes began that year, but being a couple of shy awkward freshmen they didn't actually begin talking until the fall of sophomore year after they exchanged cell phone numbers through a mutual friend.

Over the next few weeks, Connor and Ellen went on a few fall-themed group dates (to which their parents had to drive them - thanks Moms & Dads!): a haunted corn maze, a scary move night and a night at King's Island's Halloween Haunt. These are just a few reasons why Fall will always be their favorite season!

Finally, Connor asked Ellen to be his date to the Homecoming Dance with a message on a soccer ball that he snuck into her locker (at the time Ellen was the rising star of Turpin's JV soccer team...). Ellen said yes and the date was set - the homecoming dance was on October 17th, 2009. After a perfect evening with dinner at El Coyote and everything you would expect from a high school dance, Connor walked Ellen up to her front door (after being dropped off by his parents) and finally mustered up the courage to say... "Goodnight!".

After getting home and realizing that he completely chickened out in person, Connor texted and Ellen and officially asked her to be his girlfriend and she said yes :) It was after midnight though so they would go on to always treat October 18th as their anniversary.

Connor and Ellen enjoyed the next 3 years of high school together, spared from (most of) the the typical drama that accompanies teenage relationships. Looking back, the memories that stand out to them above the rest include Friday Night football games, exchanging notes in study hall, eating carry-out Outback and staying up late watching Ghost Adventures.

After high school, Ellen went north to attend Ohio State University and Connor headed South to Atlanta for Georgia Tech - placing them over 560 miles apart. Due to this distance, soon before leaving for college Connor and Ellen made the difficult decision to separate as they left for school (this was primarily Connor's idea - a point he is often reminded of). They spent a few months separated, but by Thanksgiving Break of their freshman year they both realized that they couldn't stand to let distance keep them apart. The team was back together. :)

They spent four years in college loving life and making the most of their long-distance situation, creating their own college memories while they were apart. Then every couple months for a holiday break or a special weekend, Connor and Ellen would put on the miles to visit each other's campuses and finally get to share their college experiences together.

By the time college graduation approached, they were over the moon to finally be moving to the same city again. They rented their first apartment on the Banks in downtown Cincinnati and stayed there for a few years, attending more happy hours than they ever thought possible.

After making some lifelong friends and memories in their apartment complex (and getting their first pet cat, Belle!), they decided to hop across the river and buy a purple-door'd house in the Mainstrasse neighborhood of Covington, Kentucky.

In the summer of 2019, Connor's family planned a special trip over to Ireland and France that was always on Connor's dad's bucket list. They graciously invited Ellen to tag along, and off they went across the pond.

On July 4th, the family went on a hike to the top of Diamond Hill in Connemara National Park. Little did Ellen know, the name of the mountain was foreshadowing the events to follow.

Midway up, Ellen told Connor that they might not make it all the way to the top because it was very steep and tiring. Connor was very insistent that they would (to Ellen's annoyance), and she rather sassily reminded him that it was "not their trip." Little did Ellen know that the whole family knew the reason for the beautiful scenic hike..

The family stopped for a gorgeous photo op about three quarters of the way up the mountain. After photographing everyone but herself, Connor asked if she wanted a photo together, to which she replied: "Onward and upward!" Ellen later found out that he had considered proposing there.

As everyone reached the top of the mountain, Ellen ran around to see all of the views. A moment later, Connor invited her to one spot and asked for a picture. He turned to face the breathtaking view with his arm around her, and when they turned back around to see the family, everyone had a device... that's the moment when Ellen realized what was going on!

So with Connor's family watching and recording, Connor shared many sweet words, got down on a knee and asked Ellen to marry him. As you can see, she said yes.