Autumn and Gauge technically met freshman year of college, though at the time it was more of a noticed-from-afar situation. Autumn quickly developed a crush on Gauge—one she insists was subtle (it wasn’t). Gauge, meanwhile, was blissfully unaware, just living his life and going to class, while Autumn quietly admired him and waited for fate to do its thing. Fast forward to junior year, 2019, when fate finally stepped in… in the form of a school project. Autumn, who had clearly mastered the art of patience, found the opportunity to be Gauge’s project partner. Somewhere between working on assignments and realizing they didn’t want the project to end, they fell for each other. What began as a freshman-year crush and a junior-year group project turned into something much bigger. Turns out, Autumn’s persistence paid off, and Gauge was worth the wait. The rest, as they say, is history—and proof that sometimes the best love stories really do start with a syllabus.

Our first date is one of our favorite stories—mostly because it comes with two equally true versions. Technically, Gauge took Autumn to TD’s in Clemson to get wings. But if you ask us (or anyone else), we’ll tell you we went to Pretty Place Chapel to watch the sunrise. Somehow, both places perfectly captured who we are. TD’s solidified our love for wing dates, and Pretty Place sealed our love for sitting on the side of a mountain, taking in a beautiful view together. From that very first date, it was clear that whether we were sharing wings or sitting on a mountain, all we really needed was each other.

Gauge’s proposal to Autumn was anything but ordinary—it was an adventure wrapped in riddles, memories, and a little bit of suspense. It all began in Charleston, where Autumn was handed the first clue and sent on a mission to find Gauge on their favorite beach, Isle of Palms. From there, the riddles continued, leading them to Autumn’s favorite restaurant on Shem Creek, Tavern & Table, where she thought the surprises might end. She was wrong. After dinner, they returned home, where Gauge revealed a packed suitcase and one final clue pointing them toward Clemson, South Carolina—their old college stomping grounds. Soon enough, they were back in a place filled with memories, staying in a romantic treehouse, skipping rocks at their favorite creek, and ending the night with BBQ (as all perfect days should). The next day, they drove one of their favorite Clemson trails, and Autumn began to grow suspicious—and a little impatient. Surely this was the moment? After all, they were quickly running out of meaningful places they hadn’t already visited. What Autumn didn’t know was that Gauge wasn’t planning to revisit the past—he wanted to start something new. Gauge took Autumn up a long, winding road to Jumping Off Rock Overlook, a place neither of them had ever been before. Standing together, taking in the view and admiring the Lord’s work, Gauge shared one final riddle before getting down on one knee. He asked Autumn to spend forever with him, sealing the moment with a pinky promise and a kiss. A brand-new place. A brand-new chapter. And a forever they couldn’t wait to begin.

Autumn and Gauge’s favorite activities are less about what they’re doing and more about doing it together. Some of their happiest moments are spent skipping rocks at the creek, driving winding trails with the windows down, and listening to music while going absolutely nowhere in particular. They love sitting on the side of a mountain, soaking in the view, and then rewarding themselves afterward with BBQ or wings—because every adventure should end with good food. At home, Autumn can usually be found watching sports and enthusiastically forcing Gauge to join her, while Gauge takes charge in the kitchen and kindly—but firmly—asks Autumn to stay out for the safety of everyone eating the food. Their favorite place, though, is the couch, where nights are spent watching TV with their dog Indigo and cat Mason close by. Whether they’re chasing views, sharing meals, or doing nothing at all, these are the simple moments that make their life together feel just right.