Our story officially started in July 2021 with my new job, a move to Ohio, and my first attempt to meet someone on a dating app (thanks Bumble.)

What people don't know is that in April 2021, I was living in Virginia, unemployed, and had been offered a job at the University of Dayton in a state I had never stepped foot in. At the same time, I was offered a similar job in Florida at a university that nobody turns down - yet I did - because I felt like something (or someone) was calling me to Dayton.

I still vividly remember swiping right on Megan and thinking about how beautiful and intelligent she looked. I also remember how excited I was when we matched. (Side note: Megan still doesn't like telling people we met on a dating app so sometimes she says "we met through mutual friends" or we just make something up.)

Meg and I started chatting on Bumble, and I quickly asked her out on a date... but she was actually 3 hours away in Uniontown, and only matched with me because she was on the app when she was at a wedding down in Dayton (thank you, fate!). So... I did what any respectable guy would do - I waited for her to come back to Dayton in a few weeks for school.

Megan and I had an instant connection, even virtually. For the first few weeks, we would both stay up way later than normal to keep chatting. I was very nervous the first time we talked on the phone. I remember being on a Bumble date with a different girl and seeing Megan had sent me a message. I "went to the bathroom" just to read it and reply to her... and that was my last date with anyone other than Meg. Even before our first in-person date, I knew she was the girl I wanted to pursue.

For our first date and first meeting in-person, Megan (against the wishes of her parents, myself, and anyone else with a brain) insisted on meeting me at my apartment before we went to dinner. We went to dinner at a spot called Basil's on Market in Dayton (since closed, RIP) and she got a shrimp dish (right after telling me she doesn't like seafood.) We had a great time despite her total misunderstanding of my sarcastic personality.

We were pretty much inseparable after that. We started dating "officially" on September 22, 2021. We spent a lot of weekends watching football (Megan knows at least 20 NFL teams' starting quarterbacks now) and traveling to watch Anna (Megan's sister) play soccer (in between some complaining about the referees). The first time I met Megan's parents, Mr. Stevens went the wrong way for ~40 minutes before we realized we were going to the wrong soccer field in Indiana. I had to go to the bathroom so badly the entire ride, but was afraid to ask them to stop.

Throughout the fall, Megan and I got to know each other on a much deeper level. We had a lot of serious, vulnerable conversations, and I definitely brought out her emotional side. She met my family, who instantly loved her. She finally started to accept Oliver the Cat as her own son. She helped me change my car's brake light (great story), which was the moment I knew I was in love with her and wanted to be with her forever.

On New Year's Day, 2022, we said "I love you" for the first time. She did say it first, but I basically prompted it...

In May 2022, she finished her classes at Cedarville, and we embarked on a year of long distance. There were many trips both ways from Uniontown to Dayton, but that year showed me how much we were willing to struggle and sacrifice to give our best to each other (and how easily I could buy Abby's approval with ginger beer). This was also when we decided that wherever her residency took her, I would be tagging along.

In winter 2022, I began seriously looking at rings as we started talking about getting engaged. On January 19th, I bought the ring, and on January 28th, 2023, I very nervously talked to her parents about my intention to propose to their daughter while Megan was out getting coffee (typical).

The rest of my spring was spent recovering from shoulder surgery, waiting to see where Megan's residency would send us, and planning a very intricate proposal, while convincing Meg I "didn't have a ring yet" and "I wouldn't propose until she graduated."

I knew all along that if I was going to surprise her, I had to do it in March or April, so with the help of some sisters and some co-workers, I shocked her with a proposal on April 15th, 2023 - but I'll let her tell that story. In the months since then, we've celebrated our engagement, moved to North Carolina, started new jobs, added a kitten to the team, and began to plan for this wedding. In those months, I've only fallen deeper in love with who Megan is. She is truly my best friend (she used to hate when I said that). She shows interest in the things that matter to me and supports me in everything I do. (She now asks if we can watch the Braves!?) She is the most positive influence on my life. She is incredibly driven and astoundingly intelligent. I adore her family and even like their dog. I never get tired of Meg, and she puts up with my shenanigans better than any other human on Earth. I can't and won't imagine my life without her, so I'm planning on marrying her instead.

If you have made it this far, 1) you're a real one and 2) since Anthony described our story perfectly, I am going to tell my side of the proposal. Ever since we began seriously talking about our future together, Anthony has been adamant about wanting the proposal to be a complete surprise. I was always a little skeptical about how he would pull that off since it had been impossible for him to keep many (if any) secrets from me. We started looking at rings during our visit to Richmond in January 2023. As my graduation plans started to be discussed, Anthony told me his family wanted to come and meet my family that weekend. This was my first clue that he may have other plans for that weekend. Anthony was only allowed to lie about the proposal, so every time he tried to convince me it wasn't happening graduation weekend, I just kept telling myself that he was lying (sorry babe, I shouldn't have doubted you).

April 3rd started my last pharmacy rotation and I was definitely ready to graduate. I already found out I matched at my top residency choice and planned out the big move to NC. I was trying to find any way to finish the rotation ASAP and mentioned to Anthony about working April 15th & 16th instead of visiting Dayton for the weekend. It didn't take much for Anthony and my mom to convince me that skipping Dayton that weekend wasn't a good idea (shoutout Jodi!). The Monday leading up to the proposal, a college friend reached out about getting together and we planned a double date for Saturday night. I got to Dayton on Friday and Anthony "randomly" brought up my ring size and how he didn't think what was measured at the jeweler was accurate (this man was STRESSIN'). He ran to make a fake ring from the paper wrapper of a straw and was relived when it fit my finger. How this didn't make me suspicious, I have no clue!! We spent the entire morning at a golf tournament and Anthony was acting completely normal. We head back to start getting ready for dinner and I realize I didn't bring a dress that matched the restaurant vibe. Anthony hands me his credit card and tells me to "go get something that makes me feel beautiful" (what an angel <3). As we are about to leave for dinner, Anthony proceeds to ask me about his outfit at least 5 times (which shoes, which belt, shirt tuck vs not tucked, which watch, etc.... not exaggerating at all). Despite his signs of starting to stress, I wasn't picking up on anything too weird. We started to walk out the door and he handed me my keys even though he was planning on driving. I was about to question him but he set them aside as we rush out to make the reservation. We walked to his garage and Anthony sneakily flipped the battery in his garage door opener so it wouldn't open and we had to take my car (come to find out I needed my keys for part of the proposal). On our way to the restaurant, Anthony wasn't following the GPS. That didn't make me suspicious since he knew his way around Dayton much better than me. He turned down the road to take us to a local park that we spent time at throughout our relationship and I immediately looked at him and saw his eyes starting to tear up (brb crying). I started saying there is no way this is happening and quickly realized that proposing graduation weekend was never his plan. We pulled up to the pond and he takes my hand and walks me to a bench with his keepsake box wrapped in a chain with a gold lock. Anthony admits he didn't have the key to unlock the box. It took me a minute or so but then realized I had been carrying around the key on my car keys since Valentine's Day (his planning is unreal). I unlocked the box and found everything from my keepsake box. After reminiscing on the past year and half, he finally popped the question (!!!!). He pointed across the pond to a photographer taking our photos and then one of his coworkers jumped out of the bushes and shouted "She said YES!" We were congratulated by strangers visiting the park and walking around the lake yet I was still in utter shock that he got me completely by surprise. Our families were eagerly waiting our phone calls/facetimes on our way to dinner. It really is true what they say about the dinner after you get engaged. Being able to listen to the entire planning process was my second favorite part of the night. Anthony exceeded any idea I had for the proposal and feel incredibly blessed I get to do life with him forever. He truly is my best friend and marrying him is the greatest gift. April 5, 2024, we can't wait for you!