How We Met
Lauren: “Two busy and adventurous entrepreneurs from the SAME city had to fly all the way to Maderas Village, Nicaragua to begin their love story. Fitness instructor meets the surgeon on a yoga retreat and the fitness fairytale began!!! The week was spent practicing yoga, riding surf and exploring the beach – free of interruptions from the outside world as Maderas barely has wifi and there are no TVs – think jungle huts and animal sounds! A far cry from our lives in NYC… I had NO idea that Ryan was interested in me as more than a friend until I felt a gentle hand reach over to touch mine during a meditation practice. I will never forget that feeling. Excited, nervous – I couldn’t wait to see what was next.
Before our first kiss, he politely asked me on a date back in NYC. That day could not come soon enough… because I knew, he was the one. And then it turned out we couldn’t wait to see each other for a full week again anyway! Ryan, always being a true gentleman picked me up, with coffee and Calvin Harris beats promptly at 5:30 am and we took Barry’s Bootcamp together before both heading off to work. It was love at first sprint… AND then the real first date happened a few days later at the most romantic restaurant – Waverly Inn! We discovered here a common love for dirty martinis, music and dancing….
Fast forward to seven months later… a few more stamps on the passport … I took Ryan to Ibiza and he took me to Israel – two magical trips. That have strong spiritual meaning- sealed the deal!”
How They Asked
Ryan: “I knew Lauren was the one for me. We had grown together and become best friends and soul mates on similar paths with overlapping interests and desires. Knowing that Paris is the city of love and also Lauren’s favorite city, I thought that a Thanksgiving trip would be the ideal time and place to propose. The morning after we arrived I asked her to leave the room for a bit of pampering I had organized for her. While she was getting her hair and make up done I had found a fantastic local florist to fill the room with rose petals and a skilled photographer – Daria Lorman – to capture the moment so we can relive it forever. I really wanted the true princess experience to celebrate our engagement. We had a walkway of rose petals leading out to a balcony over looking the city of love. When she came back to the room I surprised her on one knee and told her she was my best friend and the love of my life and I asked her to spend the rest of her life with me.
The Plaza Athénée was overwhelmingly romantic and the perfect hotel to have as a backdrop to our love story. The photographer hid and captured the moment effortlessly. We than had the opportunity to go around Paris and take pictures of her favorite places. It was a foggy day in Paris but miraculously the fog cleared and we were able to share the moment over looking the Eiffel Tower from our room taking in all that was happening around us. I felt excited about our future and could not wait for the rest of our lives together to start.”
