How He Asked | Alexandra + Aidan

Alexandra and Aidan had crossed paths a few times during college, but their friendship didn’t begin until a few years later, as leaders on a retreat. After that, their relationship deepened, and little moments that would become beloved traditions began.

Many love notes, prayers, and candles in a Marian grotto later, Aidan asked Alex to be his wife.

In Alexandra’s Words: Aidan and I met at Mount St. Mary's University while he was a senior, and I was a junior. We had both signed up to be campus ministry leaders during a retreat for incoming college freshmen. Before this, we knew each other in passing, but never talked or hung out in the same crowd.  

During that retreat we really clicked and started to grow feelings for each other. My "weirdness," as Aidan's says, intrigued him and made him think I was cute!

I prayed constantly that God would take those feelings away if it wasn't meant to be, because I had recently left a relationship before Aidan that left me broken. To my surprise, however, the feelings remained, and I allowed Aidan to pursue me. 

At this point, we were “crushing on” each other but were too shy to say it. One night, into the second film of a weekend movie marathon, he finally made his move and reached for my hand. I, however, was completely oblivious and thought he was only moving closer to get a better view of the TV!

Since then, we have used love notes to share our like and (eventual) love for each other. We passed them back and forth before my 10AM class:  Mr. Scott Atkins’ earth science class. These could be a simple "I like you" to a cute message involving puns (“I like you a latte!”) and pictures. This became a tradition, and to this day, we share and collect these little notes. I even have a box made by Aidan to store them all.

As our courtship continued, Aidan and I started another tradition. We met every day before noon Mass in a nearby garden in front of a statue of Mary. Later, every time he came to visit me while he was in dental school, we would sneak into the grotto and light a specific candle to pray for our relationship.

About a year and half later, on April 26, 2019, Aidan took me to a beautiful dinner in downtown Frederick to celebrate my upcoming graduation from the Mount. I suspected that he would propose that evening and was anticipating his every move. Then, during dinner I spotted a very familiar face--it was Mr. Atkins from my junior year earth science class! Aidan and I were both blown away by this coincidence and took it as a good sign; our relationship had come full circle.

After dinner, Aidan took me to the grotto to do our usual candle lighting. At this point, I knew he would propose there! Together, we lit our favorite candle and sat in silence as we prayed. At this point, I think Aidan was sweating as he waited to pop the question. 

I looked more and more excited, and Aidan was becoming more and more aware that I was onto his plan, so he asked if I was ready to leave and go back to my apartment. This was an attempt to throw me off his trail, and I fell for it. Maybe he wasn't actually going to propose. This left me disappointed and saddened. I could have sworn he was going to ask!

Trying to not overthink it, I sat for a couple more minutes to regroup and agreed to go back to my apartment. But as we stood up to leave, Aidan gave me another love note. It was dark, so I had to lean over our lit candle to read it. It said, "How about we make this night even more note-worthy?" (pun intended).

I turned around to find Aidan on one knee with a ring in his hand. "Alexandra Nicole,” he asked, “will you marry me?" I was shocked after thinking he was no longer going to ask, and with shaky knees I kissed him and exclaimed, "Yes!"

Looking back, I see that everything was in God's timing, and with that knowledge comes so much peace, because I no longer need to rely on myself. I can fully trust and rely on a God who loves me more than words and wants what is best for my heart and my soul.

Photography: M Harris Studios | Engagement Location: Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto, Emmitsburg MD| Nuptial Mass: Baltimore Basilica | Makeup: Lou Stevens