He first noticed her in January of 2009 at Dulles International Airport, while on their way to Florence, Italy, where they would spend the spring semester of their junior year of college. They formally met a few days later while out with mutual friends. He took an interest in her almost immediately, though she was a bit wary of him. He would bring her flowers from the local flower stand and wait for her to return to her apartment, just to see her for a few minutes. Finally, she agreed to go on a date with him. He took her to a picturesque little restaurant, where [of course] they had pasta and wine; two of her favorite things.

When they returned to Kent that summer, they continued to date until they both graduated the following year. From that point on, and for the next four years, they continued their relationship while living in not only different cities but different states.

He moved back home to Erie after school and took a position at a local architecture firm, while she moved to Cleveland and took her first professional job. With only one car between them, it wasn't always an easy task to spend time together.

Two years later, in 2012, he was accepted into The University of New Mexico's Master of Architecture program. Suddenly living 100 miles apart seemed easy. They continued to date for the next two years, this time with two time zones and 1,600 miles between them. They lived on Skype dates and snail mail. Each week he was away, he would mail her a card expressing how much he missed her. She would send him monthly care packages with all his favorite snacks, and of course, a new hot sauce for him to try. He graduated in 2014 and made his way back east, where he accepted a full time position in Cleveland. Finally, they would be in the same city! He moved in with her and they started a life together.

One year later, in the fall of 2015, they planned a spontaneous trip to Italy with a couple friends. They were dying to go back and visit the city where they first met, the city that was like a second home to them. After a few days soaking in the Italian sights and sun, he took her to a very fancy dinner. It was there, that evening, that he would ask her to marry him. She was so thrilled that she burst into tears in the middle of the crowded restaurant. She said yes of course, they drank champagne, and the rest is history.