Kara: Rachel and I met on Hinge about three years ago. I wasn't really planning on trying to date anyone at the time, but there was something about Rachel that was so enchanting I couldn't stop talking to her. I remember suggesting we meet up for coffee. When I got there I walked up and she looked so cute reading a book outside the coffee shop. My normal confident demeanor was momentarily shaken when I sat down and Rachel initially seemed a little quiet and I worried I had somehow upset the vibes. I then proceeded to accidentally spill my water all over myself and just tried to laugh it off. (Rachel: I was just quiet because I was taken aback by how beautiful she was and was super nervous) Then we started talking, and there were a million things about her I wanted to know. We talked for who knows how long before I asked if she was hungry and she wanted to have lunch. I don't even remember what we talked about on that first date, I just remember smiling and laughing. We stumbled into a bookstore on our way to food, and I remember as we both looked at a book I made a little teasing joke to Rachel about something she had said earlier. Don't remember the joke at all, but I remember her smile and the way she laughed, one of those laughs when something takes you a little by surprise and is a little goofy, but you can't help but laugh. I liked her so much and so quickly. I mentioned because of COVID all my grad school had been online I had never actually seen my school's building before. Next thing we knew, we were driving over to Georgetown in search of the building (it's actually on a different campus, which we didn't know, so we just wandered aimlessly). Our date was over 7 hours long. I remember telling a friend I wasn't sure if she liked me, but they told me if she spent 7 hours with you she must. (Rachel: She was right I did:) Rachel: Kara is my best friend, and I love each and every day we get to spend together. We fell in love so quickly. Our first date was the best, and I never wanted it to end, and in some ways, it hasn’t:) We had a great few months together before beginning the long almost 3-year journey of long distance. From long talks on the phone in the evening to side-by-side time (when we do separate things on the phone with each other). To our time in person. One of my favorite memories was a camping trip in Cherokee, NC, and hiking and exploring the Smoky Mountains a place I visited growing up. We went to Harper’s Ferry, a place Kara grew up going, and played in the snow. We’ve also had so many great moments in DC like going to all the Smithsonian's or helping Kara as she fixed her roommate's washing machine by completely taking it apart or spending all day in the garden. In Durham, we love slow days of watching movies together and going on hikes through the Eno. In both places, our Saturday routine is going to get bagels and coffee at our favorite spots respectively hand in hand (or tacos occasionally in DC from La Tejana iykyk) We got engaged in December! (It’s a wild story and there aren’t enough characters for it) But it was one of the wildest adventures and the best days of my life. I cannot wait to marry the love of my life and get to see her smile for the rest of my life. We’ve both driven through Richmond countless times on our way to see each other. A handful of times we have met in the middle for short day trips exploring their parks. We are so excited to get married in Richmond (technically Chesterfield). And we are so excited for our friends and family to join us. Community is so important to each of us, and we are grateful you are all a part of our story as individuals and as a couple.