Lauren and Justin are every Swiftie’s dream love story — a thoughtful surprise set against Taylor Swift’s iconic backyard.
Photography by Love Sunday Photo | @lovesundayphoto
The Meet Cute: Justin and Lauren met the way all romantic, old-fashioned love stories begin — online. After some playful flirting and long chats, they quickly realized three things: they lived only a few blocks from each other, shared a love for South Boston’s “east side” and frequented the same coffee shop.
One cold Saturday night in February, they made plans to meet. The excitement was high until Lauren canceled at the last minute, leaving poor Justin waiting at the restaurant. In her defense, she suffers from Crohn’s Disease and had just recovered from a flare-up. The next day, she asked Justin if he’d give her a second chance and meet for brunch instead.
One cancelled date turned into a well spent day hopping through Boston’s finest bars in the middle of a snowstorm. After that, they were inseparable. As Taylor Swift once said, “When you know, you know and when you don’t, you don’t.”
The Engagement: After spending several summers together at Lauren’s parents’ house in Charlestown, the couple moved to Westerly a few years ago. Watch Hill has become an all-time favorite, and Ocean House their dream venue and the perfect place to daydream about being wealthy and hosting an all-white wedding. Though it was out of the budget for a wedding venue, Justin still found a way to incorporate it into the proposal along with a view of Lauren’s favorite place — Taylor Swift’s backyard.
It was a cold day in January when Justin told Lauren he made brunch plans for his birthday. She was slightly suspicious since they had already celebrated his birthday twice that weekend. When Justin arrived at Ocean House, he led her to the back deck to admire the snowy ocean view. As they walked down the stairs, a path of rose petals led to a rose-covered proposal. “Since you can’t get married at Ocean House,” he said. “At least you can say you got engaged here.” The romantic surprise was followed by a bottle of champagne, a cozy breakfast and, of course, a beautiful custom ring.
