Kelly & Ryan

Ryan Ballentine

If Ryan were an animal, he would be a puppy who always wanted to play, but also forgot that fetch indoors often ends in broken household objects and minor injuries. But don't be fooled - Ryan is (mostly) a mature man now. A few highlights from his recent years include: purchasing shorts that are not made of mesh, eating cereal for dinner only once a week, and moving his bed from the floor to a frame.

When Ryan isn't building his Bireme Capital empire, he is likely contemplating some esoteric enigma posed by a fellow Sophist. He is enlightened and academically engaged, which makes him a formidable (and stubborn) rival in any dialectic. He's so handsome that Kelly's muscles feel a little like Jell-O when she sees him smile. But he also makes her muscles feel like Jell-O when he announces he's going to free climb the closest cliff face or bike the wrong way down a congested city street. Ryan makes Kelly feel like the best version of herself, and she cannot wait to be his official partner in the game (activity?) of life.

Kelly Kirby

Kelly is bubbly yet intellectual, sweet yet fierce, and down-to-earth yet classy (well, minus the whole ketchup-on-eggs thing). When she goes off to work, she somehow manages to be professional and intimidating, yet also the most adorable thing Ryan has ever seen. She's killing it whether she's hosting a dinner party, trying a case, laying out on the spikeball court, or jumping around on the dance floor. She's too good at baking so Ryan doesn't let her do it because he'll get fat.

If not engaged in some rigorous lawyering, Kelly is probably engaged in some vigorous exercising. She runs or spins every day, which Ryan finds impressive and completely baffling. Her only weaknesses are sometimes caring too much and a callous unwillingness to share food.

First Date

Like every good 21st century love story, Ryan and Kelly's began with a dating app. Kelly's friend convinced her that she wouldn't get murdered so Kelly reluctantly signed up. Meanwhile, Ryan ...

Like every good 21st century love story, Ryan and Kelly's began with a dating app. Kelly's friend convinced her that she wouldn't get murdered so Kelly reluctantly signed up. Meanwhile, Ryan was trolling every dating app known to mankind for the girl of his dreams... thus far in vain!

On other first dates, Ryan had merely taken his date out for coffee or a drink. But somehow, Ryan knew this was going to be a very important date, so he took Kelly to dinner at an upscale Mexican resturant in West Hartford. Luckily, the date was very cheap; Ryan and Kelly were so busy talking and generally hitting it off that all they managed to order was guacamole!

After their guacamole, Ryan and Kelly went to a bar where Kelly got the early stamp of approval from some of Ryan's friends. Like a true gentleman, Ryan walked Kelly to her car. Unlike a true gentleman, Ryan may or may not have snuck a brief first-date kiss in the parking garage. The date went so well that they got together again the following night for board games.

Courtship

Setting the tone for their relationship to come, Ryan and Kelly's courtship revolved around activities. Rock climbing, yoga, board games, camping, soccer, concerts - Kelly and Ryan had the opportunity ...

Setting the tone for their relationship to come, Ryan and Kelly's courtship revolved around activities. Rock climbing, yoga, board games, camping, wine tasting, soccer, dancing, concerts - Kelly and Ryan had the opportunity to get to know one another in all manner of situations. For instance, Kelly learned that Ryan has a "unique" (outspoken and controlling) style of play when it comes to board games, which is exacerbated when he's losing. Kelly also learned that Ryan was interesting beyond belief, forcing her to exercise her mind in ways in which she never would have done without his provocation, in order to keep pace.

Within a few weeks, Kelly had effectively moved into Ryan's apartment, which, at the time, was "furnished" with a cardboard box full of balls, mattress on the floor, and a Philadelphia Eagles comforter made to look like a jersey (think: green and iridescent).

The ultimate test of their budding relationship occurred in the middle of a desert during Burning Man, when Kelly lived in a yurt with six of Ryan's former frat brothers for a week. After eight days full of sand storms and sleep deprivation, but devoid of showers and running water, Ryan and Kelly were more in love than when they started. This confirmed for Kelly what she had thought since their first days of dating -- Ryan was definitely the one.

Engagement

Ryan and Kelly went to Foxwoods, where Kelly thought they would just be meeting a few friends. Instead, Ryan invited a whole slew of their best friends from across the country, and had their families ...

Ryan and Kelly went to Foxwoods, where Kelly thought they would just be meeting a few friends. Instead, Ryan invited a whole slew of their best friends from across the country, and had their families sneak into their suite ahead of time. Their families decorated the room with flowers, balloons, and champagne, and set up multiple camera angles to capture the big moment while the crew hid next door.

When Ryan proposed, Kelly was surprised and overjoyed... or, well, maybe more accurate is "shocked and overwhelmed." Basically, her brain was broken. She couldn't say much more than "oh my god" for the next several minutes. (We had to go to the instant replay booth to confirm that she actually said yes. The call on the field was confirmed.) Soon after the proposal, Kelly's mom led the surprise family entrance, and Kelly was physically incapable of hugging her mom. Noni had to grab her arms and wrap them around her. Upon seeing the decorations, Kelly thought that the previous guests had forgotten their stuff.

Once Kelly's wits returned, a night of eating, drinking and dancing with family and friends sealed a wonderful, memorable day.