Our first encounter was through a dating site, in which we initially bonded over our shared love of quoting song lyrics (“Where have you been all my life?). Coincidentally, Ian was in Portugal while I (Beth) was in England which meant we entered the New Year at the same time. After messaging nonstop while abroad, we finally went on a first date back home in Tallahassee, and since that first date we realized just how well we were each others perfect match. Each day since has deepened our connection and love.
For our first Christmas together we went to Tubac, Arizona with all of Ian’s nuclear family. On Christmas Day, we had a wonderful meal where we each cooked a special dish we had planned at the house where we were staying at, and afterwards I was helping with the dishes when May (our future sister in law) came in and said that she saw a group of javelinas and their babies. Little did I know that May was leading me through the back patio doors where Ian was waiting in front of a beautiful mountain sunset and strung up fairy lights that he had brought all the way from Tallahassee. He got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. What made the moment even more meaningful was the fact that both of our close family members were witness to the engagement (both in person and through a video call).