In August of 2013, I (Bailey) transferred to Ohio State and moved to Columbus just a week before classes started. Two days later, I decided on a whim to go to a house party where I didn't know a soul. The second I started walking up the steps at 117 East Lane, I locked eyes with this really cute guy who was leaning in the front doorway. We walked right up to each other and introduced ourselves. Julian Clouse instantly became my favorite name. We were drawn to each other all night and at some point, Julian ended up sitting on the roof. I found him out there and the conversion started out a little something like this:

Bailey - "I'm going to sit by you cuz you're cute"

Julian - "Well, you're not too bad yourself" *insert wink here*

(19 year old Bailey had some guts!!!)

Let’s be real, there was NO WAY Julian was letting me leave without getting my number.

We officially started dating on November 23rd, 2013 (we had to be sure this thing was the real deal)! We graduated together in May of 2016 and moved to Austin, Texas a few weeks later. While we both worked to get our careers going, we’ve lived in Austin, Columbus, Jacksonville, back to Columbus, and ultimately ended up in Dayton!

In April of 2023, we went on a friend’s trip to Austin a few days after my birthday. Our first day we went to San Antonio and spent the day on the river walk, seeing the Alamo, and bar hopping. Just before sunset, we went to take a picture together in a spot suggested to us by our friend, Akshitha (shoutout!!). That’s where Julian proposed! What really made it though was our friends whooping and hollering while getting the crowd excited. We got some cheers from a passing river boat and some amazing pictures and videos to remember the day. We made the boys find a spot for a celebratory dinner while us girls went to celebrate with Mexican Candy shots at an Irish Pub! It was the best trip ever!

We will celebrate 11 years together this fall! I’m so lucky to love, and be loved by, my best friend.