Couple of the Month ~ Lauren + Derek
The couple of the month for April is: Lauren and Derek!
How We Met
Derek and I (Lauren) first met on an online dating app. After agreeing to meet up for a dinner date, I hit the worst traffic ever and was two hours late to our first date! On top of that, there were no tables available at the restaurant we wanted to go to. So we settled for another local restaurant. After that, I invited him to come out with me to Scarefest, the haunted house my family owns. He actually ended up meeting my entire extended family on our first day together. We have been running around having crazy adventures ever since!
Our Engagement
Since then, we have been going on 10 years of traveling together. We’ve been to over 20 different countries, including Shanghai Disneyland where Derek got down on one knee in front of Cinderella’s Castle. I, of course, said yes!
When Covid-19 happened, Derek and I were living in Italy, stuck in a tiny apartment. Although it really threw our lives into a whirlwind, we were able to finish school. Derek got his masters in Data Science from the University of Padova near Venice, Italy and I finished my MBA online from Kettering University.
The Wedding
Two wedding postponements and a summer of traveling Europe later, we are ready to FINALLY have our wedding. Derek now works in the analytics department for his company, Waitwhile. I got a job right away at Mahle as a Program Manager. We’re both very excited for the future and ready to celebrate our story this April at the beautiful venue of Saint John’s Resort!