Yes, Kevin and Stephanie went to school together and grew up down the street from one another, but that is not the beginning of their story. It all started one summer after college between late night walks home from the downtown bars. Living so close together gave them the excuse to spend a little extra time chatting with no one else around. It became routine and something they looked forward to – sharing a bag of Cool Ranch Doritos or looking up at the stars. People started to notice them getting closer. Stephanie’s mom caught on early and even once said “That Kevin has got his eye on you!” Stephanie, of course, quickly brushed this off.

This love story almost never was, though. Stephanie started a job in Ireland with every intention of finding an Irish husband and basically never returning. But Kevin didn’t stay away! Inviting Stephanie to meet him for part of his trip to Barcelona, he won her over with a rooftop kiss (but all the Jamón Ibérico and porras may have sweetened the deal). Stephanie came back to Boston with only Kevin in her sights.

Their relationship continued as if no time had passed, enjoying biking to local shops and delicious restaurants, many pandemic walks, their first apartment together, and now lending each other a hand with new home renovations.

Kevin sweetly planned a canal-side proposal during their trip to Copenhagen, which was unfortunately sabotaged by two cases of Covid. He pivoted and continued to hide the ring until a trip to the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, where he proposed in the dahlia garden. They celebrated with ice cream on the way home after a perfect day.

Timing is everything ;)