Orange County Engagements
I’ve been waiting FOREVER to post this one but I wanted everything to be perfect since these are my LITTLE SISTER, Kaitlin & her love Andrew’s Orange County engagements in San Juan Capistrano, California! I have loved watching these two fall in love, and I am SO giddy that Kait has found someone who treats her like a princess and makes her so dang happy!
How They Met
Kaitlin played soccer at the University of Houston from 2008-2011. Andrew started his football coaching career in 2013 at the same school. While Kaitlin was in Houston visiting some of her former teammates, she was introduced to Andrew through some mutual friends. They were both out one night in Houston with two separate groups of friends, and eventually, both groups ended up at the same establishment. Everyone there ended up dancing and having a good time. Except Kaitlin. Her normal outgoing self was caught in a trance. She couldn’t stop admiring the tall drink of water (Andrew) and his amazing moves on the dance floor. After that initial meeting, she could never really shake him.
Their Love Story
After a couple chance encounters in Houston, Kaitlin and Andrew went on with their separate lives on opposite sides of the country. Andrew took another coaching job at the University of North Carolina and Kaitlin was living back home in Huntington Beach, California. One of their mutual friends, Kylie, went to visit Kaitlin in California, and while there she constantly updated her social media with posts of her and Kaitlin. One post in particular caught Andrew’s eye and he commented, “Don’t I know your friend? She’s cute…” Some time later during Kylie’s trip, Andrew received an early morning text from Kylie with a phone number, nothing more. When he woke up, he responded to Kylie asking who’s number it was. Kylie just responded, “You can thank me later.” Obviously it was Kaitlin’s number an later that day, Andrew texted Kaitlin. They have talked every day since. 
A couple months later, Kaitlin visited Andrew in Chapel Hill, and from there, a transcontinental love story began! They dated for over a year long distance before Kaitlin made the move to Chapel Hill, just before the start of Andrew’s second season at UNC. That fall together in Carolina was a wonderful time for both of them. It was during that time Andrew knew he’d met the love of his life, and he went on the search for the perfect engagement ring!
How He Asked
While Andrew had made the decision to propose to Kaitlin in the fall, he knew he wanted to do it somewhere out West, where her friends and family would be able to be a part of the engagement and celebration. In 2015, the UNC football team was invited to play in a bowl game in Orlando. Kaitlin wasn’t going to be able to go to Florida, and instead was heading to Utah to spend Christmas with us! Andrew knew he wanted the proposal to be a total surprise to Kaitlin, so the fact that they were going to be in different parts of the country made it difficult to arrange the perfect surprise proposal. The football players and coaches had to report to Orlando on Christmas Eve, so the head coach gave them just two days off. Kaitlin was booked to flyto Utah on December 21st, so he decided to book a last minute flight on Dec. 23rd, get in to Salt Lake City and head to the Grand America to arrange a surprise proposal in the courtyard all lit up with Christmas lights.
Andrew planned for Kaitlin to go to the Grand America with my mom and I. We told Kaitlin they were taking my kids and the rest of the fam to a Christmas exhibit and Santa visit at the hotel. While we were walking around the hotel, keeping her busy, Andrew snuck into the empty courtyard and waited by a massive decorated Christmas tree. Once in place, he texted me and told me to bring her out. We told Kaitlin we had to go take a family picture by the big Christmas tree outside (which she was annoyed by but by now she knows better than to argue with us because pictures are just part of what we do!). As soon as she got close, Andrew walked around from the other side and said, “Surprise!” She was completely shocked, and she had NO clue it was coming. The rest, as they say, is history! My mom and I were there with our cameras to document the whole thing!
Kaitlin and Andrew are a perfect match for one another! She keeps him on his toes, and he keeps her in her place 🙂 They are the best mix and most definitely a contender for favorite aunt and uncle! Next step is (and I keep begging them to hurry!) is their own littles so my littles can have more cousins!
Love you guys to pieces!
XOXO
