Shelby: “Shortly after I moved to the city, I got on dating apps to meet new people - and found Patrick. He seemed pretty great and I wanted to meet in person, so I asked him to meet up with my friends and I at a rally in the Decatur Square. He got nervous and didn’t come, but he asked me to come over to our mutual friends’ house that night. I awkwardly ignored him the whole time because I was nervous, and only talked with our friends instead. When we left at the same time, we started up a conversation that continued on the sidewalk outside their place until 1 in the morning. Our friends secretly watched from their porch while we flirted and talked and he eventually asked me out.”

We met up at The Goat Farm, a local artisan community with a tips-only coffee shop and a great view of Atlanta. We shared stories, laughed, and watched the sun set over the city. It was dark, but we didn’t want the date to be over, so we moved on to a nearby bar called Ormsby’s and talked for hours over drinks. We both had plans later that night, but pushed them aside to keep the date going!

Patrick: “Shelby and I had a few conversations about taking the next steps in our relationship. Shortly after those conversations, her grandmother graciously offered her engagement ring to be used in the proposal if and when we decided to do it. Our one year anniversary was only a few months away, so I called Shelby’s family to ask if I could come to Pensacola to spend time with the family and ask her grandmother for the ring. Sneaking off to Pensacola was not easy. I told Shelby that I was going to my parents house in Texas, so she insisted on taking me to the airport. I tried everything to dissuade her, but she persisted. Shelby and I arrived at the airport in the morning - I got out of her car, luggage in tow, kissed her goodbye, and headed into the airport - straight to the MARTA, which I rode back to a station close to my house. My cousin waited to pick me up and take me to my car. I then made the secret trip to and from Florida. On the drive back, it rained the entire time and I never told Shelby what time my ‘flight’ would get in and only told her after I was home that someone else had picked me up. The night of our engagement was our one year dating anniversary. We began the night with dinner at one of our favorite restaurants, Houston’s. We sat and ate a lovely dinner while jazz played in the background. Afterwards, we drove to the Goat Farm, where we had our first date. We set up a picnic blanket and looked out at the skyline while we read letters we wrote each other. I pulled her to her feet, pulled out the ring, and got down on one knee. Two of her friends hid in the bushes to take pictures while I proposed, and they ran out afterwards to congratulate us. We watched the sun set after they left before moving on to Ormsby’s, where I had a surprise engagement party waiting with our families and closest friends. My family helped set it all up so that it was ready when we got there. It was a lot of planning - and a lot of fun!”