Ivan and Ashley both attended Christopher Newport University. When Ashley was a Freshman moving into her first dorm room, Ivan who was a Junior at the time moved her in along with the CNU rugby team. As the story goes, Ivan noticed Ashley, but Ashley was too excited about going to college to notice Ivan. 4 years went by and Ashley & Ivan never connected. It wasn't until after Ashley had graduated and moved back home that they would connect on two dating apps, which led to their first date at Leesburg's Delirium Cafe. They had drinks, good conversation, and lots of laughs...followed by dinner at Kobe's Japanese Steakhouse and a triple order of fried rice. Ivan and Ashley to this day say that they knew they found their match that night, and they both parted ways knowing it was the start of something beautiful; a 3-year relationship that would turn into an engagement on July 18th, 2020, and a wedding surrounded by those they love on November 20th, 2021.

A lot of wonderful events have taken place in Ashley and Ivan's life in 2020. For such a stressful year, there was also a lot for the two to be thankful for. A new house, a dog named Kimba, and an engagement. Ivan proposed to Ashley in front of all of their friends at Barrel Oak Winery. It was a perfect day filled with love and friendship followed by a wonderful dinner and celebration with family. However, not many people know a very special moment that was shared between the couple a few days after their engagement. Ivan and Ashley were having a heart-to-heart and Ivan said he was 'proud'. Thanksgiving in 2019 was spent in Florida with Ivan's extended family - everyone came together to see Ivan's grandfather who was not doing well. While they were visiting Ron in the hospital, he asked Ivan and Ashley to bend down to him and he said "Make sure you get her the ring before the house. Promise me", which he repeated a few times while they visited. Ivan promised him that day that he would....He was so proud, because on July 18th, he fulfilled the promise that he made to his grandfather.