This isn’t your typical love story in which the boy met the girl and they instantly knew they were destined for each other. No… this union came to be from the stubbornness of two people who simply enjoyed each other’s company too much to let distance pull them apart.

Brendan and Maia first crossed paths as runners on the Cross Country team. Although they both later joined Track and Field that spring, their friendship truly began in the following years as they stayed connected through mutual friends. Their bond started to grow as Brendan’s love for terrible movies and Maia’s love for amazing ones combined. After a continuous string of “terribly enjoyable” movies (Happy Death Day, Detective Pikachu, etc.), Maia decided it was time to open his eyes to what a good movie truly is (The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Edge of Tomorrow, Arrival). As the summer continued and their friendship strengthened, reality began to settle in as the day Brendan had to leave for Basic crept nearer. Although saddened by the uncertainty of their paths, they knew, even then, that they would not lose what they had built.

Once Brendan left for Basic, they immediately began writing each other letters, updating one another on their lives and new shows they’d discovered. This pattern continued with random phone calls and updates, scattered between limited visits to Florida, until things began to change in December of 2023 when a night out at a bar led to an invitation to a wedding. Rather than wait another year to meet again, Brendan and Maia reconnected only a few months later to attend his sister’s wedding. After spending lots of time together, they realized that they had built something truly special. With nine years of friendship under their belts, they knew they’d established such a strong foundation that not even a six-hour time difference could weaken it. They’d known they loved each other, but now they realized they were in love with each other.

Brendan proposed to Maia on October 11 2024, in Bascharage, Luxembourg on a local hiking trail. Maia knew that he would be proposing on this trip, but Brendan gave her the unfortunate news that he did not recieve the ring in time (this was a lie). Maia did not pick up on Brendans subtle hints that she should wear nicer clothes on their hike, and even went into the bag in which the engagement ring was hidden, and still had no idea. While standing above a creek on the trail, Brendan offered her some water, and knelt down on one knee to retrieve the water from the bag. Maia was too concerned that the bag was being placed onto the slightly muddy ground to notice the box in Brendans hand. Eventually, she picked up on what was happening, and said YES!

The journey between Maia and Brendan is something truly special, woven through years of friendship, shared passions, and moments that brought them closer together despite life’s twists and turns. From high school teammates to best friends separated by miles and yet bound by letters and late-night phone calls, it’s clear they’ve built a love rooted in mutual respect and understanding. They grew together, embracing each other’s quirks, hobbies, and joys—a true testament to the strength of their connection.

M&B

Wedding Day

4:00 PM–4:30 PM

Ceremony

Reception