kristin ann chandler:

Hometown: Conyers, Georgia Education: B.S. Chemistry, B.S. Environmental Science University of Georgia Occupation: Chemist at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

benjamin dale trapp:

Hometown: Fairfax, Virginia Education: B.S. Industrial Design Georgia Tech Occupation: Information Technology Specialist at the U.S. Treasury Department

how we met:

In April 2005, Ben attended a business trip with all of his colleagues in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. By some stroke of luck or fate, one of Ben's associates happened to bring her young daughter Kristin on this particular trip. When the first day's meetings concluded and everyone got together for cocktail hour, Ben noticed Kristin and immediately took interest even though he didn't recognize her. Despite his wishes, he could not find anyone who knew her and an opportunity to introduce himself never arose.

Later that evening at Pusser's At The Beach, the two were formally introduced to each other by a mutual friend. Ben didn't want to "make a move" in front of an audience consisting of his co-workers, so the first evening ended with simple pleasantries. The stars were not in alignment... yet!

The next day, a casual volleyball game formed on the beach after work, and Kristin and her mother were among the players. When their exhausted teammates requested substitutes to take their place on the team, Ben volunteered and consciously took the available position beside Kristin...

While Ben's volleyball skills failed to get Kristin's attention, he tracked her down beside the swimming pool after the game and the usual courting rituals ensued. After an hour of cheerful conversation, Ben mustered enough courage to ask Kristin if she would like to leave the pool with him and go explore other venues on the strip together. Kristin graciously accepted the offer and the two really hit it off on their first "date."

When the evening ended, the pair decided to make plans to see each other again the next day. Kristin and her mother had already signed up for a dinner cruise and Ben wanted to join them. Luckily, there were still spots available on the cruise and he wasted no time securing his reservation.

When the ship's photographer snapped their picture before boarding, Kristin and Ben instantly became an official couple. The cruise was perfect, and Kristin made the first move by taking Ben's hand, never letting go all evening. And when the time was right, they shared their first kiss as the ship sailed across the moonlit ocean.

On the last night of the business trip, Ben and Kristin suddenly realized that their time together was almost over. Ben lived in Virginia at the time, and Kristin's home was in Georgia. Neither person liked the idea of a long distance relationship. Was the new star-crossed couple doomed to becoming just a vacation "fling?" Or did they discover something special that only comes once in a lifetime, a bond easily worth any trouble or sacrifice?

Well, Ben visited Kristin in Georgia the very next week and sealed the deal. For months, each partner took turns visiting the other on weekends and holidays, until one day Ben picked up his roots and moved down to Georgia to be closer to the woman he loved...


how he proposed:

On Friday, June 9, 2006, Kristin came home from work early to go to a plant nursery with her friend Jeannie. Kristin was unaware that Jeannie was an accomplice to Ben's elaborate plan. While Ben made his preparations at home, Jeannie ran interference and stalled Kristin at the nursery for as long as she could.

With Kristin preoccupied miles away from home, Ben had a pretty white gazebo professionally installed in the backyard of the house. After a few technical difficulties, Ben finished his other romantic touches...

He lined the gazebo railings with scented candles, sprinkled a path of pink rose petals from the house to the gazebo entrance, and hung two pink forsythia wreaths on either side of the gazebo entrance. Ben also placed a chilled bottle of champagne and a pair of flutes beside a beautiful bouquet of flowers inside the gazebo.

When Kristin finally came home, Ben helped her unload her new plants, careful not to spoil the surprise that awaited her in the backyard. When the moment was right, he blindfolded Kristin and led her through the house to the backyard and gently removed the blindfold so that she could enjoy her surprise! Kristin thought that the new gazebo was her only surprise, but Ben had one more up his sleeve (actually in his pocket). Once inside the gazebo, Ben professed his endless love for Kristin, reached into his pocket for something shiny, got down on one knee, and the rest is history!