Chris and Lauren had both been on the dating apps for a while when they decided to look in places they hadn't considered yet. Chris finally expanded his geographic radius to include Roslindale – off the edge of the Orange Line and the known universe – while Lauren lowered her age requirement to include 29-year-olds. On the dating app Bumble, Lauren was instantly drawn to Chris's smile and interesting (endearingly nerdy) profile. When Chris saw that Lauren liked his profile, he immediately yelled to his then roommate Bryan (the officiant) in excitement. Lauren asked Chris out on her first message and Chris responded with a time and a restaurant. On that first date, Lauren quickly declared that there would be no second date after hearing that Chris was moving to Afghanistan later that summer. Chris spent the rest of the night doing everything he could to get a second date. He told Lauren that the stakes were low because "it's not like we're going to fall in love in 6 weeks." Chris was profoundly wrong. Lauren spent the second date throwing all the "hot seat" questions she could think of at Chris. She was trying to see if he was worth her time. Instead, Lauren was stunned at how similar Chris' answers were to her own. By the third week of knowing Lauren, and on his 30th birthday, Chris was on an all-day sailing trip (one-way) with Lauren and her parents (see video above). Soon after, Lauren met Chris' family, too. Lauren and Chris jokingly described their relationship as on an "accelerated program," though they both knew where it was headed already.

Chris knew that Lauren needed three things at a proposal: a body of water (preferably an ocean), golden hour sunlight, and her younger sister, Caroline (the maid of honor). With the blessing of her parents, and a ring that Lauren would love, Chris plotted with Caroline and his younger sister, Melissa (a bridesmaid) to propose on Plum Island, MA. Lauren (mostly) thought it was a normal beach weekend, one that they'd done several times before. Chris's dad, Peter, lives on Plum Island, though was away that weekend. Chris suggested catching a sunset after a Saturday at the beach, subtly (or not so subtly, depending on whom you ask) suggesting that they walk on the beach instead of watching it from the crowded Sunset Club, a bar right by his dad's house. Walking down the beach, Lauren started to notice Chris acting a little odd, though did not notice the two floral-colored blobs in the dune grass behind them – expert engagement photographers Caroline and Melissa huddled down and waiting for the moment. Chris asked Lauren if he could ask her a golden hour "hot seat" question before getting down on one knee. Despite suspecting that it was coming, Lauren's immediate reaction was to ask, "Is this real?". Not expecting that particular response, Chris looked from Lauren to the ring and back again, saying "It's a ring". Lauren finally responded with an "Oh hell yes!". Caroline and Melissa came running down from the dunes, champagne and flowers in hand. The four of them celebrated on the beach together and immediately started talking about wedding plans over dinner. We are both so excited to celebrate our love with all of you! See you on Long Island!