We're getting married!

Akshai was looking for his tribe in Greenville. Angélica was the Meetup organizer for the social group, "Casual and Refined". And so the story begins… 'Twas the night before the first time Akshai and Angélica would meet, and Akshai was scrolling through the Meetup app and found a happy hour at The Yard House (just down the street from where he lived) and decided to check it out. He got there a bit early feeling a mix of nerves and excitement as a lot of people had RSVP’d and he hadn’t had much luck with other Meetup groups. He waited by the entrance with a few others who had gotten there a bit early as well. In walks this beautiful woman, poised and confident in every way wearing a sweater, dark jeans and boots. Akshai quickly realizes that he has been looking at her for a couple of seconds too long and lowers his gaze. Angélica walks up to Akshai and graciously, and in a very friendly way, introduces herself. Akshai and Angélica just happen to sit next to each other that evening and her friendly and welcoming nature definitely made the evening relaxing and fun. Akshai ordered a smoked Woodford Old Fashioned, his usual go-to drink at Yard House. The choice drink piqued Angélica’s interest, who also happens to be a bourbon lover, and he offered her a taste, and thus began a start of their friendship. Their friendship rapidly evolved and grew through multiple happy hours and dinners where they got closer and closer each time. By sharing everything from deeply personal and closely held things to random, off-the-cuff commentary, they found similarly held interests and similarly held experiences, which only deepened their connection. Angélica invited Akshai into her smaller, more intimate, friend group (beyond anything from Meetup) where they only got closer, and the feelings started to get stronger, through every meeting. Akshai already knew that he had feelings for Angélica but was too afraid to admit it to himself (or to her), and was worried about what would happen if he confessed his feelings out loud. All these feelings came to a head at 13 Stripes Brewery after dancing to some bad 80s music (the DJ was terrible!). Angélica and Akshai closed the night dancing to Purple Rain. It was intimate and beautiful in every way with Angélica wrapped in Akshai’s arms. Fast forward to February 2024 - After a delicious meal (with oysters, of course) at Jianna’s, Akshai walked Angélica back to her car where Angélica professed her feelings. Akshai shared that he had been feeling the same way for some time now but was too afraid to say anything. That night, under a moonlit sky, they shared their first kiss. A few days later, they went on their first actual date to Jones Oyster Company (with more oysters, of course) and they have been inseparable ever since. In November of 2024, on a rainy night before dinner at Scoundrel, Akshai and Angélica shared a glass (or a few) of champagne when he proposed to her. And as most would say, the rest is history… they are still sharing a dozen, or two, of oysters every chance they get!