Ashley and Nic met in college at Shepard university during her junior year and his sophomore year. They knew each other for about a year before they started dating, because Ashley was on the women’s soccer team and Nic was on the football team. They would run into each other around campus and at parties on the weekends. They were formally introduced to each other by Nic’s brother, Jon, and one of her best friends, Rachel, who was her college roommate. Jon and Rachel are also now engaged, and they are all best friends! 

After dating for five and a half years, they had both been talking about taking the next step for a while and looking at buying their first home together. Nic had talked about waiting another year or so before getting engaged, so Ashley really did not see a proposal coming this soon. Nic knew that all he needed for the perfect proposal was for Ashley’s family, his family, and her best friend (Ashley’s chocolate lab) Mitch to be there. 

Ashley’s parents took Nic and her out to dinner for her birthday. While they were at dinner, Jon, Rachel and Nic’s parents drove out to her house in Frederick (from Harford County) and lined her driveway with about 100 fake candles and rose petals. At the end of the driveway was a circle and a lit-up message that said “Marry Me.” When they got back from dinner, Ashley was shocked to see the whole setup! Her dad was driving at the time, so Nic asked him to drop them off at the start of her long driveway and they walked down the lane together with music playing in the background. Nic’s parents, Jon, Rachel, and itch were all standing at the end of the driveway, and her parents trailed behind them. Nic did his best to keep us walking slow! 

When they made it to the circle and Nic got down on one knee, Mitch decided to steal the spotlight and ran up to us to try and play, which made the moment even more perfect! 

Their proposal had happened on one of the coldest nights in February, so after they took a few pictures outside, they all went into her house where there was champagne and balloons waiting for everyone. Ashley’s dad gave a quick toast and then they took some more photos. A few days before the proposal, Nic found a dog bandana that said “She Said Yes!”, so they had to get a few pictures with Mitch wearing it!

The following day they went back to Nic’s hometown and spent the entire day with some of their closest friends. Jon and Rachel also very generously threw them a small engagement party that night at their house. It was the best birthday weekend she could have ever imagined, but ever have expected. 

One of Ashley and Nic’s favorite things to do as a couple is share about foods and eat together! Both of them come from families where food is a very important part of their family values and traditions. Nic’s mom is Italian which means homemade everything, and Ashley’s dad is a foodie with every kind of grill, smoker, and fryer you can think of! They are both very close with their families, and a lot of their time is spent enjoying food together. They also love to travel and go on spontaneous weekend-trips. Ashley and Nic love the same music and going to concerts, shopping, going out with friends, and spending time with their buddy, Mitch.