Our story began in the early months of 2022; We met each other through social media and began talking intermittently nearly daily. I (Phil) found out through Kate's social media accounts that she also was a member at the Planet Fitness in Biddeford (ME). Months previous, all of my (Phil) date proposals were shot down. I had invited Kate to Dinner multiple times and assumed with her college courses, and balancing night shifts at the time she was busy. Around May, I noticed Kate was documenting her fitness progressions of Instagram and kept acknowledging how great she was doing. I had generally gone to Planet Fitness (PF) around the same time daily, right after work. I hadn't run into Kate at PF previously to that date. One day however, while working out with fellow Groomsman and co-worker at the time (Garrett Havard), Kate had approached me while I was doing a shoulder workout. I can only presume that Kate was enamored with my muscles and the intense training being conducted. Kate and I started talking and walking on the treadmill towards the end of the workout. After we both walked out of Planet Fitness; Kate noticed the nicest ride in the parking lot, a brand-new moped, was mine. Kate was hooked immediately. July came around and we had been lifting together 3-4 times a week since. Kate invited me to walk the beach with her in Wells. When I arrived Kate informed me that her family had come up to visit and they rented a beach house nearby. I hadn't met Kate's family before this point, nor heard much about them. I wasn't nervous by the comment, but I was astonished/nervous by just how many people there were. I got to meet nearly 25 of Kate's closest family and family friends all at the same time, and apparently it went well. They welcomed me in almost immediately and invited me back later on for a game night.

Kate and I had been officially dating a couple months; and when late August rolled around, Kate was on the fence with school between a Physician Assistant or nursing degree at UNE. After deliberation with her family, Kate decided to change her focus to nursing. I fully supported her decision and even suggested transferring somewhere other than UNE. The only obstacle posed by leaving UNE was the housing predicament. Housing in southern Maine is very pricy and often times stressful/inconvenient especially during the college season. At the time, I was also beginning my career for USPS and had to complete training 2 hours away from Biddeford, ME. A week after the Center/Schutt moving crew helped relocate Kate's belongings to another dorm, Kate was still deciding whether or not she wanted to transfer schools. I (Phil) suggested that Kate move into my apartment, and it appeared to be a unanimous decision from Kate and her family.

It didn't take long for Kate to get comfortable with the apartment, and now nearly 3 years later, it feels more like a home than ever.

In late 2022, Kate had visited NY to meet my grandparents and my dad (Phil Sr + Grandma Barb + Phil Jr.). And Kate also got to witness the Phillies win the NLDS in person in Philadelphia for her first Philly fan experience.

Mid 2023, I brought my mother Marcella (Marcy/Chief) to Vermont to meet Kate's parents and grandparents one weekend. While there, I went up to Scuba Steve (Kate's father) in his car while Kate and Danielle (Kate's mom) went in to bail Brayden (Kate's brotha) out of school. I asked Steve for permission to ask his daughter to marry me. Steve seemed shocked but respected the fact that I asked him. Steve gave me permission and I let him in on the idea that I planned to ask Kate during a spontaneous trip to Denver Colorado.

I purchased a ring from Kay Jewelers with the fashion/style advice from my mother (Marcy). The next week Kate and I found ourselves scaling Red Rocks national park and amphitheater. I channeled my inner Rocky Balboa and asked Kate "What do you think you're doing for the next 40 or 50 years?"... I then told her that I would love for many more adventures like these in our future and then asked her to marry me. Kate said yes and managed to squeeze the very inaccurately sized ring on her finger.

After over a year of engagement, we are enjoying the engaged life and wedding planning phase and are now counting down the days to our Wedding Day and can't wait to celebrate with our closest family and friends!