It all started so innocently, really. A few hearted posts, a comment here and there. Next thing you know, hour long conversations that felt like a few minutes. Ricky hopped on a plane to show Kia "her city" (gun range, ax throwing, couples massage, dinner) and they never looked back.

Kia met most of Ricky's family at Mama Sherry's birthday extravaganza. With a 70's theme, it was a night to remember. After the formal introductions, they realized that they have truly been one degree of separation a part their whole lives. Kia grew up in the same neighborhood as Ricky's cousins, graduated high school with his brother and her sister went to high school with various family members. Akron is small, but this truly is a family affair!

Ricky met Kia's family shortly after Mama Sherry's party at her nephew's wedding. So many moments captured but hitting the dance floor with the girls was definitely a highlight of the night. Dinner, dancing and celebrating love...what better way to foreshadow what was to come!

What an amazing weekend! After 5 looooong years, Kia graduated from THE Ohio State University with her doctorate. At her graduation dinner, Ricky arranged for her loved ones to come up front and share their stories of her. He wrapped up with his own confession and then got down on one knee. (there's a snippet in the gallery, ya'll!).