We met at our friend (and future bridesmaid) Kerry's Halloween party in 2018. Kerry invited Bill because he had recently moved to the NH seacoast and was looking to meet people (& because he's nice). Kerry had mentioned Bill to Kelsey before in passing as "a nice guy that she volunteers with teaching adaptive ski lessons" but Kelsey was single and focusing on other things at the time. It was a super rainy and cold day and Kelsey honestly didn't want to drive up to NH for a party, but her wonderful roommate at the time, Stephanie, demanded she go and she'd watch Spinney and Iris. Bill spent most of the day skiing with his future Groomsman Adam, so he was late to the party. When Bill arrived, the party was in full swing and Kelsey offered to show him where the fridge was to keep his beer cold. A couple hours later, Bill was still holding his beer (now warm) and Kelsey had talked his ear off in the kitchen. Not surprising to anyone… Bill ‘slid into her DMs’ on Instagram shortly after the party and after chatting there for a few days, we went on our first date on November 27th, 2018. Kelsey forgot her debit card and ID at home so that was embarrassing but Bill invited Kelsey to a wine party hosted by Groomsman Nick in early December as a second date. They stopped counting dates from there and have been happily doing life together ever since.

After a long day of yard work, Bill told Kelsey they should celebrate their accomplishments by going out to dinner. A tired Kelsey steadfastly refused, shirking Bill's plans to use the opportunity to ask her to marry him that evening. He offered up a dinner at Surf in Portsmouth, Kelsey's favorite restaurant, which quickly changed her mind. Following dinner and a nightcap at The Wilder, Bill suggested they go for a walk as it was a nice night. Despite how nice a night it was, it was also well past Bill's bedtime. Cue Kelsey's suspicion. They walked to Prescott Park, a few blocks from their first apartment. Bill intended to make it to the park's magnificent hydrangeas and recount some romantic soliloquy about how the hydrangea they planted that morning would grow as the ones in the park, a metaphor for their love and all - but an overly giddy Kelsey wouldn't stop talking. Seeing an opportunity as she paused for air, Bill dropped to a knee and blurted out the question. Since you're perusing our wedding website, you've probably guessed what her answer was. It was really special was getting to share our news with our moms the next day, Mother's Day 2023.