Our story really begins with Rachel in the start of summer of 2013. Rachel just graduated from Towson Unversity with her bachelors in Early Childhood Education and was on the hunt for a teaching position in Baltimore County. Rachel's grandparents were set to take her on a cruise to celebrate her graduation, but sadly the cruise ship caught fire and the cruise was cancelled. Little did Rachel know that that little misfire was a blessing in disguise, because the same week she was to be on the cruise was the week she got her interview at Glyndon Elementary School. Rachel became the new third grade teacher for the 2013-2014 school year. Across the hall from Rachel's classroom, was a fourth grade teacher named Mrs. Linda Briggs, who talked her ear off each day. The following year, Rachel and Linda moved to second grade together and worked as a team. In her third year of teaching (2015), Linda approached Rachel in early December, showing off her nephew with tons of pictures. Rachel wasn't too sure, but Linda persisted and thank goodness for her fairy godmother qualities! On the other side of this love story, Ryan's mother, Trish, who is Linda's sister was provided photos of Rachel to show Ryan. When Ryan saw a picture of Rachel, in an attempt to downplay the situation, he said she was alright. While Trish exclaimed that "She's gorgeous!" Ryan decided to give it a try, just like Rachel. Both went in with open hearts and a willingness to take a chance. Rachel told Linda to tell Ryan to message her on Facebook because she wasn't too sure about giving out her phone number just yet. So, Ryan messaged Rachel on December 20th, 2015 with not your basic hello, but a message along the lines of things are only awkward if you make them! Rachel was intrigued by this opening and the messaging continued for two days, until Ryan asked for Rachel's number. The two continued to text each other and planned to have their first date the day after Christmas on December 26th, 2015 at Bar Louie in the Hunt Valley Town Center. And as they say, the rest is history!

Ryan moved into Rachel's apartment officially on August 25th, 2016 after 8 months of dating. Ryan told Rachel he loved her on her 25th birthday on August 28th, 2016 through a card, but according to Ryan, Rachel said it out loud first. Despite having his things in the apartment, it did not feel quite like home to Ryan. He proposed the idea of getting a new apartment with Rachel, but then decided that maybe a house was a better investment. Ryan and Rachel began house hunting and after missing out on one house, they settled on a townhome in the Hampstead area! Ryan and Rachel were thrilled with their purchase and excited to start the next chapter of their lives, well after getting a working fridge that is!

Three months after buying the house, Ryan surprised Rachel on Tuesday, September 12th, 2017. Rachel was at grad class in Towson while Ryan prepared the home for her arrival. Ryan left work early and went to the store to gather dinner materials, flowers, and rose petals. He began to set the stage by getting dinner in the crock pot, sprinkling rose petals on the floor, placing all the notes Rachel wrote him on the dining room table, and lighting the house with candles. Rachel arrived home and was greeted by a sign that said "Put your stuff down here," which made Rachel very uncomfortable because it was out of her routine. Rachel diligently followed directions and put her stuff down at the door. She walked up the half flight of stairs, questioning aloud why it was so dark. Rachel came up the stairs and her eyes were drawn to the dining room table with all the notes she had written Ryan over the past year and a half. She was in awe and began to reminisce about all the amazing moments they have had so far. Rachel asked what all the notes were doing out on the table and why the candles were lit. She was so taken a back that she did not even realize that Ryan was making a beautiful speech about wanting to spend the rest of his life with her. Ryan's line about wanting to make Rachel smile for the rest of her life is what helped to seal the deal. Rachel saw Ryan at the end of the trail of rose petals, dressed in his suit, holding a bouquet of flowers, and a box. Ryan got down on one knee and asked Rachel to marry him, and of course she said YES!

After the proposal, Rachel went full on into wedding mode! She ordered a wedding plan book and began to research wedding venues. Rachel's dream is to be married on the water, preferably the Chesapeake Bay. Rachel and Ryan toured a few venues in places like Aberdeen, Havre de Grace, and Kent Island, but none seem to be fit. Rachel and Ryan plus their mothers traveled to Edgemere, Maryland to tour the Bayfront Club one Sunday morning. Upon entering the venue, your breath is taken away by the stunning floor to ceiling 180 degree view of the Bay. Ryan and Rachel will have an outdoor ceremony with the stunning Chesapeake Bay as their backdrop. Ryan and Rachel will continue the celebration with cocktail hour on the deck, and a plated dinner in the ballroom all while the sun sets and lights twinkle and reflect on the waters of the Bay. Ryan and Rachel are ecstatically counting down the days until they say " I Do!"

After settling into their new home, Ryan and Rachel decided to find a furry friend to add to their family. They did some research and visited a few shelters; however, they could not find the one. A friend of Rachel's posted on Facebook a dog she was fostering named Creed. Creed has a beautiful brindle pattern and the sweetest face that Ryan and Rachel could not resist. They did a meet and greet with Creed on Wednesday, May 23rd, 2018 and were so smitten, they brought him home on Friday, May 25th, 2018. Ryan and Rachel decided on the name Louie after having their first date at Bar Louie in Hunt Valley. Louie has brought the couple so many joys and smiles!