Kaitlyn and Eric first met in 2004 in Mrs. Lewis’ Advanced Biology class. Or rather, Eric first noticed Kaitlyn with her head buried deep in a book. Kaitlyn first noticed Eric a few weeks later in a crowded high school hallway when he smiled at her and she thought, “Oh that’s the guy who always tries talking to me before class. He has pretty eyes.”

Thus began a flirtatious friendship spanning nearly a decade. The following summer they had their first kiss at the Amherst Mill at sunset after a July 4th pig roast. They dated on and off the next school year but ultimately settled on being friends until losing touch a few years after graduating.

It wasn’t until a chance Facebook message from Eric to Kaitlyn the day after Christmas in 2017, hitting at just the right moment for them both, that reconnected them. The next time Kaitlyn was back home visiting family she asked if he’d like to go on a walk to catch up, and the rest, you might say, is history. They both realized that despite it being 7 years since they’d last seen each other they very much had both been holding a candle for one another all these years.

After that realization there were lots of laughs and adventures. So much delicious food. A pandemic that made long-distance even harder. Family beach vacations. Eric slowly winning Kaitlyn’s cat, Finn’s, affection. And a lot of learning together how they wanted and deserved to be loved.

Finally in late 2022, Eric was able to make the move to Richmond. And in October 2023, he asked Kaitlyn to marry him at the same spot by the fence at the Amherst Mill (now Camp Trapezium) they shared their first kiss 18 years previously. Kaitlyn said yes, and now they’re planning their wedding in Rustburg, VA.

And you’re invited!

K&E

Ceremony & Reception