It's a lovely autumn, late-September day and Kristen's in her hand-me-down 2003 Ford Taurus cruising up to the Research Now office in Plano, Texas. She’s desperate for a job but is feeling REALLY good about this prospect. And oh, what's playing on the radio? "Applause" by Lady Gaga, of course. And look at that—she's on time for her interview! The stars must be aligned.

She walks into a room with three dudes—two of which she had no clue would be a part of her wedding a whole 12 years later.

Kristen listens closely to the questions, especially from Alex, who is quite intimidating at a whopping 7 feet tall with a Russian accent. But the guy to her right doesn't intimidate her much—he's pretty chill, and in a t-shirt and shorts, per usual. His name is Anthony.

The interview goes well, but there's one last question. Anthony casually asks, "If you could name anyone in the world, who would you say inspires you?" Kristen is in her I-don't-give-a-fluff era and feels confident, so she responds, "Lady Gaga." All that to say, she lands the job.

Fast forward to January 2015, and the company is throwing their last actually fun holiday party at the Perot Museum in Dallas. Anthony is looking polished on the second floor of the museum—next to the astronomy section—chatting with friends when Kristen and her sister join in. They chat all night with a group of friends, and some of them take the party to the office and drink wine in a conference room until 4 am. Yep, you read that right. The sparks are flying, and Anthony knows what to do next. He sends Kristen a text. And just a few days later on January 14, 2015, they go on their first date.

Throughout the last 10 years, Anthony and Kristen have supported each other in a myriad of ways. From triathlons and showcases to grief and mental health struggles to progress and achievements, they’ve remained loyal in partnership and have grown together. In 2016, they got active and healthy. At the end of 2020, they adopted the loves of their lives, Kallie and Koko. And at the end of 2023, they purchased their first home together.

And just before the move-in, on November 18, 2023, Anthony, Kristen and their families meet up at White Rock Lake for family photos. As with every year, Kristen sets up her tripod and camera to capture another year of memories. The last photos of the evening were just of Anthony and Kristen. Little did she know, Anthony would turn, kneel, and propose…except nothing comes out of his mouth. He’s too stunned as tears fill his eyes. Quite frankly, he didn’t even really need to ask. Kristen laughs and says yes without a question. They've waited long enough for this, ok?

And there, by the lake reflecting the sunset, another chapter unfolds.

Zola registry