George and Katie were introduced by the Fitzpatrick’s, Katie’s cousin, Mimi, and George’s high school friend, David. They had each worked on their respective fronts to get these two to meet and were able to convince them to brave the cold for a paddle tennis date at the Elkridge Club. It was a cold, winter day but George didn’t mind the cold as long as he got to spend time with this new and charming girl. According to David, after the date, she was “amenable” to giving George her number and he promptly asked her on a date in Washington D.C. They met on a Sunday afternoon at one of their now favorite spots, Jane Jane and after that day, have not gone one full week without making the effort to see each other.

George knew early on that he wanted the proposal to be special, had heard from Katie what would be the perfect day. So he began to plan, first asking family, then friends to see if they would want to make the journey to be part of the day. He just could not figure out a spot to do it, a place that would have meaning for the two of them. He landed on Elkridge but specifically, the paddle tennis courts. So under the guise of dropping her off to be picked up by her friend, Covie Smith, he brought her to the club and walked her over to the paddle hut. She knew pretty much immediately that the question was going to be asked and began laughing and smiling when George came up with silly excuses as to why they should check out a winter sport’s lodgings on a hot summer day. So they went in and George, visibly nervous and mind blank, asked her if she wanted him to get on one knee, answering with an emphatic “YES!” After she accepted, he took her over to Andy’s bar at the club which was filled with friends and family, much to her surprise. The rest of the weekend was filled with time spent with their family and friends in Baltimore and Sherwood Forest.