Clear Cut Couples: Caitlin and Derek
Caitlin and Derek met on Match.com. The bride's family actually talked her into making an account. Caitlin’s brother and sister-in-law were the ones that encouraged her to answer Derek's first email. They said that he looked fun! LOL! So we have her family to thank for getting them together! Sometimes… family knows best.
For their first date, they met at the Stingray Lounge in Hoboken where both of them had lived. It was a Sunday early evening during football season and the Bill's bye week. Derek is a huge Bill's fan and never misses watching a game. Caitlin says, “So now I know that I got lucky that we were able to meet that weekend! It was such a wonderful night of talking and laughing over drinks and appetizers.” Since then, they have been together for over a year and a half!
They’ve had so many memories over the years! Derek loves to surprise Caitlin. For their first valentines, she was away on a business trip and she flew home Valentine's morning to her apartment decorated. He had 5 dozen roses scattered throughout her entire apartment, there were even roses on her bathroom counter. Her birthday that year, he surprised her with a trip to Italy. They went last October and it was the most wonderful week of her life. AWW! Caitlin says, “He had every single day planned with activities like a cooking class, winery tour, private boat tour in Capri. It was all very special. This last Christmas one of my gifts was a weekend in Lake Placid where we took a horse drawn sleigh ride through the snow. He never ceases to amaze me with the time and effort he puts into our relationship. He is so thoughtful and we have really been able to enjoy some wonderful trips together.”
Derek proposed on Saturday May 9th in their kitchen! They were supposed to go to Charleston in April where he had planned to propose and unfortunately their trip was cancelled due to COVID-19. Derek had been holding onto the ring for a few months at that point and as the stay at home kept getting extended, he said he could not wait any longer. So he woke up early Saturday and made her heart shaped chocolate chip pancakes and as she sat down he was down on one knee. Caitlin said, “It made it even more special that he said he just couldn't wait any longer. Our kitchen was actually where he also asked me to be his girlfriend a year and a half ago. During this challenging time our engagement has brought so much happiness to so many people's lives.”
It was the best surprise and Caitlin is over the moon! He knew what she had liked, but the ring is even more beautiful than she could have ever imagined.
With everything going on in the world right now, they are planning to get married in their Church in Hoboken and have a nice intimate dinner for family and close friends in the winter at a venue nearby. Then hopefully they will be able to have a larger celebration once life resumes back to normal. Congrats Caitlin and Derek!! We are SO happy for you!
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