On the last day before finals, Allie brought up the Black and White Dance to Gavin and a mutual friend, hoping that he would go so that they could finally hang out outside of class. The next day, he texted her asking if he could “tag along” - and the rest is history! They talked all night (even though the music was too loud to hear anything) and started texting as soon as they left.

In December 2023, Gavin decided to purchase the ring Allie wanted and hid it away in his room until he could plan the proposal. He had initially planned to propose that winter at the top of a ski slope at Peek’n Peak, but when winter had come and gone with little potential to go skiing, he had to plan alternatively. 
Fast-forward to late February of 2024, when Gavin and Allie participated in their Honors program’s trip to Washington D.C. The entire time they were there, Gavin was trying to figure out where he could propose. Maybe the Lincoln Memorial? No… Maybe the Washington Monument at night? No… On their last day, they traveled to Washington’s Estate at Mount Vernon… this is where it would all go down. 
He conspired with mutual friend George Tice to let him know to be ready to record once their group reached the river. When they reached their destination, Gavin (after nearly a full minute of convincing Allie this was real) knelt down on one knee and proposed. The woman was -quite literally- too stunned to speak! Emily Irons, being the amazing friend that she is, instinctually started taking pictures when she noticed George recording.
Only a few minutes later, the group had to rush back to attend a pre-scheduled group tour of the Estate. Although it was a very lovely tour, don’t bother asking Allie many details about it - she was still trying to process the fact that she had just gotten engaged! 
They didn’t think the six-hour bus ride back to campus was the best place to announce an engagement, so the pair instead took that time to soak in the moment and bask in the joy of their special little secret :)