After having known of one another from their shared Christian fellowship at U.Va., Caitlyn and McKinley officially met at a beach week the summer after their first year. Caitlyn was immediately drawn to McKinley's humility, kindness, and passion for the Lord, while he was drawn to her character and love for God and others. After a wonderful week spent getting to know each other, they texted and video called all summer. A trip to visit one another in Charlottesville made it official! They've spent the last three years growing closer to one another and to the Lord! As they started to picture their futures, God planted in their hearts a shared passion for ministry and a desire to spend the rest of their lives together. One of the highlights of their relationship has been attending church together and growing in their faiths side by side, learning about God, each other, and the family of Christ. College has been a crazy, wonderful time; they've shared tears of laughter and sadness, taken 10 hour road trips together, taken care of one another in moments of struggle and celebrated blessings with one another. Who knew that U.Va. would teach them just as much about themselves and their relationship as it did about their majors!

After a summer spent teasing of an engagement to come, and many inspiration pictures of engagement rings, McKinley decided to surprise Caitlyn in Washington, D.C. as she was home visiting her parents. Caitlyn spent the day with her mom, who jokingly said that she had "reserved" the day for the two of them, saying that she told McKinley he couldn't propose that day. Getting ready that morning, Caitlyn had a feeling something special was about to happen. She must have been nervous, because she dropped her contact and ripped her favorite shirt! After a comedic morning spent chasing down contacts and wardrobe malfunctions, she and her mom spent a wonderful day together, finally arriving at the National Cathedral gardens for "tea." Meanwhile, McKinley was driving up from Charlottesville to meet his dad, their photographer. McKinley insisted in parking on the very bottom level and very last spot of the parking garage, so that there would be no chance that Caitlyn would see his car and ruin the surprise! Keeping tabs on Caitlyn's location through texting with her mom, McKinley searched the gardens for the perfect spot to propose. Once she arrived, McKinley met Caitlyn at the garden gate, and she was so surprised! They walked through the flowers talking until McKinley got down on one knee and proposed. Caitlyn said yes, of course, and the rest is history!