Derek and Peyton met at a mutual friend's New Years Eve party at Wright State in 2016 and hit it off almost immediately. To this day, they aren’t sure whether they were being set up that night or not, as they were conveniently both some of the only single people in attendance. They spent most of that night talking and exchanged numbers. They knew that something special was happening between them and began dating officially on January 20th, 2017. They spent the next two years growing together while they both attended Wright State and falling more in love as the months passed. After their graduation in May of 2019, they were in the process of moving into their first apartment when Derek proposed! Peyton was unpacking a box then turned around to Derek down on one knee and was, very unusually, speechless for a brief moment but she quickly found her words and told him “of course”! The months that followed have proved to them that they can get through anything life can throw at them (a tornado, jobs changes, cat ownership, and so many more) as long as they are together.

While the ongoing global pandemic may have delayed their original plans, they know that protecting the health and safety of their loved ones is paramount and that the joy to come is worth the wait, no matter how long delayed. They cannot wait to celebrate with everyone!