Natalie, a commercial real estate finance professional from Alexandria, and Holden, a financial advisor from Hagerstow, met on a fall trip to Deep Creek Lake planned by a mutual friend, and sparks flew. She was drawn to his friendly warmth; he to her bubbly energy, and life-of-the-party personality. The timing wasn’t right, but three months later, they were together.

About a year after a first date with drinks on Bethesda Row followed by dinner with friends in DC, Holden dropped Natalie off at the airport for a work trip, and then drove directly to her parents house (when she was in the air and couldn’t see his location), to ask for their blessing to propose. Later, he popped the question while the two were on one of their regular walks on the Capital Crescent Trail, which Natalie calls t

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