A shared beginning
Our story
The beginning
A few almost-crossed paths, then one very good yes.
Kaitlyn and Nicholas met in the spring of 2024, after they had both spent plenty of time on dating apps finding anything but the right person.
Long before they ever met on Coffee Meets Bagel, Kaitlyn and Nicholas had already been crossing paths without even knowing it. They attended both CCBC and UMBC at the same time, living parallel lives just minutes—and sometimes just feet—apart. While Nicholas spent his time studying in the library at CCBC, Kaitlyn was lifeguarding less than 100 feet away. Somehow, despite being so close, they never met.
Looking back, it feels like fate was quietly working in the background, waiting for the right moment to bring them together. They both needed time to grow, find themselves, change careers, and discover who they were becoming. When they finally met, they were exactly where they needed to be—not just to find each other, but to be ready to build a life together.
Once they both swiped yes, they slowly began to realize just how much they had in common.
Nicholas was kind and thoughtful, but there was one completely random detail that made him stand out above the rest: he had a “work truck.” From that moment on, he was affectionately known in Kaitlyn’s household as the guy with the work truck.
Orioles
A first date, a rain-soaked kiss, and the feeling of home.
They spent a few weeks flirting before Nicholas finally asked Kaitlyn out. He planned the perfect first date: putt-putt followed by dinner. The date went so well that Nicholas asked Kaitlyn if she wanted to watch the Orioles game at the bar next to the restaurant. As an Orioles fan—and someone who was becoming very interested in this new guy—Kaitlyn happily said yes.
A little while into the game, Kaitlyn rested her head on Nicholas’s shoulder and snuggled in. The only way she could describe the feeling was that she felt like she was home. Later that night, Nicholas looked at her from his truck with what seemed like every intention of kissing her. But being the patient gentleman he was, he waited.
They made plans to go to an Orioles game the following weekend in Club Level seats, an experience Kaitlyn had never had before. Little did they know, that would actually become date number three. They wanted to see each other so badly that they squeezed in another date during the week, when Kaitlyn introduced Nicholas to her love of Red Lobster’s Cheddar Bay Biscuits. The food itself wasn’t anything special. The biscuits, however, were amazing. And once again, Nicholas felt like home. Nicholas asked Kaitlyn if he could kiss her that night, but she told him that, thanks to all the garlic from the biscuits, they should probably wait. Little did she know, Nicholas had other plans. Before the Orioles game that weekend, he surprised her in the middle of the Target parking lot—in the rain—to share their first kiss. It was unexpected, perfect, wonderful, and a little bit of magic.
More dates came and went
Little traditions, new favorites, and Rubiks.
More dates came and went: more Orioles games, walks around lakes, picnics, and dinners. Kaitlyn soon met Rubiks, Nicholas’s adorable pup, and it was love at first sight. Rubiks quickly decided that Kaitlyn was her mommy, and Kaitlyn immediately knew she was her baby. It probably helped that Kaitlyn arrived with a pocket full of treats.
Hersheypark
Coasters by day, three little words on the way home.
One of their first trips together was to Hersheypark. They both love roller coasters, so they spent the day riding everything they could and having an incredible time. On the drive home, they stopped at a Cracker Barrel, where Nicholas told Kaitlyn that he loved her in the parking lot. Of course, she said it back—to the man she already hoped she would one day marry.
Disney
Matching shirts, family, and 32 pounds of candy.
That fall, they took their first trip to Disney World together. They traveled with Kaitlyn’s parents, and brother's family. Nicholas even helped Kaitlyn use her Cricut to make every shirt for the trip. They had matching outfits each day and even coordinated with the rest of the family most days.
One of the highlights was Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. They got to see incredible shows, ride amazing attractions with almost no wait, and—best of all—go trick-or-treating throughout Magic Kingdom. They bought a reusable shopping bag and decided to turn the night into a challenge. By the end of the evening, they had collected more than 32 pounds of candy.
Cruise
Two first cruises, and a shared love of the sea.
That November, they took their first—and second—cruises together. Nicholas planned the dream cruise lineup for Kaitlyn. First, he took her aboard Oasis of the Seas, a ship she had been dreaming about and geeking out over since Royal Caribbean first announced the idea more than a decade earlier. Then came one of Nicholas’s favorite cruise brands, Virgin Voyages, known for its incredible experiences and entertainment. They had an absolute blast, somehow managed not to get sunburned, and came home even more in love with cruising—and with each other.
Hawaii / Europe
More of the world, and a life built together.
Since then, their story has only gotten bigger. They have traveled to Hawaii, explored more than 15 countries, and embarked on an epic European adventure that would become their engagement trip. By the time of the wedding, they will have taken more than seven cruises!
Along the way, they moved in together, built a home, and continued creating a life filled with adventures, laughter, and memories.
Now, they are beginning to plan not just the next trip or adventure, but a life and a future together—forever.
One of those adventures became a story of its own. We’d love to share how our European trip became an engagement trip—and the moment in Barcelona that changed everything.
Come along to our engagement story