Our Story
How did you meet?
My roommate at the time paired Nora and I as dance partners in the URI Marching Band. I didn’t know how to interact with cute girls and she flat out refused to believe I could do the lift without snapping like a twig. Don’t believe her when she says I dropped her - I lost my balance and placed her on the ground. I promise.
-Rob
The URI Ram Marching Band! We were paired up as dance partners, mostly due to the fact that I was a freshmen who didn’t know anyone in the band and he was a junior who’s previous dance partner had quit the band. We got to know each other learning a choreographed dance to “Any Way You Want It” by Journey. Really classy.
-Nora
What was the first thing you noticed about your fiancé?
Her enthusiasm? Joy? I was a miserable man and she kept, like, giving me high fives and cheering me on. She made this two-left-feet-tied-together of a dancer stop worrying about the moves and enjoy being together.
-Rob
If I’m being completely honest? His hair. It was always styled really well, which I later learned was because he had a few cowlicks that he was trying to defeat.
-Nora
Who was interested first?
Me. Literally right away. I’d never felt such a magnetic attraction to someone before and, if my brain didn’t know, my initial awkwardness around her certainly told me. Luckily it’s hard to say anything embarrassing while trying to learn a dance routine.
-Rob
Ok this one is up for debate. But I’m going to go with Rob, simply because he knew about his feelings sooner. I didn’t identify that I had a crush on him until much later (but I 1,000% did).
-Nora
When did you know? Like, KNOW?
Nora and I went through weeks of wrestling with whether or not we could date (for social and Biblical reasons) between her rejecting me and when we actually started dating. About 100 minutes into one particular phone call she brought up our future weddings and how “even though we liked each other we could still watch and be happy for each other’s partner” and I very specifically thought “but I want you at the alter.” I remembered the moment towards the end of the summer and understood that I knew even before we started dating.
-Rob
Super super weird answer. So the first summer we were dating (summer 2019) those face aging apps were really popular, and I remember trying it out on the only picture I had of us at that point. For whatever reason, there was something about our electronically aged faces that made me think “this is someone I can see myself growing old with.” From there it was just one thing after another that confirmed that feeling.
-Nora
What is your favorite picture of just your fiancé?
How would you describe your fiancé in under 5 words?
Extrovert, the good kind.
-Rob
Such a lovable nerd.
-Nora
What is your favorite thing about your fiancé?
Her energy. It goes all the way back to her enthusiasm as a dance partner. Sometimes it leaves me running to catch up for sure, but it always ends with me soaking up little spontaneous moments of joy.
-Rob
Watching him become an amazing man of faith has been the biggest blessing over the course of our relationship, and his never-ending pursuit of God has to be my favorite thing about him.
-Nora
What is your favorite thing to do as a couple?
Any sort of place we can go out and learn lends itself to an amazing time together. We end up having such amazing and deep conversations together any time we’re active enough to get our minds rolling. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
-Rob
Explore! Getting to explore new places/cuisines is always a favorite for me, I’m a naturally curious person who just loves getting to discover. It’s so much sweeter with him by my side as well.
-Nora
What is your favorite picture together as couple?
The Proposal
After weeks of getting Nora’s family to carve out time in her schedule, I was finally ready to propose. What an exciting journey up to Sherman it was! I totally blew my cover trying to get her to meet me at a specific spot but it all worked out for the best. Seeing Nora’s face light up throughout the ride was awesome - it’s not often I know what’s about to happen and she doesn’t! But, above all else, I’m so incredibly glad I was able to do the proposal on “her” field. I know how much she thought about getting married there as a kid so it really warms my heart I was at least able to get down on one knee in Sherman. And to have our families there too! It made for such a special evening. Charlotte got the perfect video of the moment and a special thank you Sarah Wiggins for all the photographs!
-Rob
Anyone who knows me has heard about how I grew up in a storybook town that I love with my whole heart. My childhood home is located on a white dirt road with a huge hayfield on one side and woods on the other, and I have always had an unrealistic dream of getting married on the field. Rob knew about that dream (and that it might not happen), and he successfully navigated my crazy schedule to make a trip to my home to propose. By the time we made it to Sherman from Rhode Island I knew what was happening. But prior to the 2 and a half hour drive, I had no idea that October 17th was the day or where it would be happening, so much so that when I said yes I was still wearing my tour guide uniform from work that morning! I’ve made many wonderful memories on that field over the past 21 years, but walking back down to the house with Rob after sharing that moment will forever be my favorite, which is saying a lot.
-Nora
