On the Eve of Halloween, as Atlanta lifted COVID restrictions and the city sprung back to life, Braden was running around last-minute trying to find a costume for the Midtown Bar Crawl while Whitney was out to drinks with co-workers, oblivious that she had previously agreed to go to said bar crawl. A frantic phone call and a failed attempt at finding costumes and Whitney and Mary Weston were ready to take on the town. Whitney and Braden’s first introduction was at the illustrious tiki bar in the heart of midtown, Tiki Tango where Braden’s offer of a free (because it was a bar crawl) drink was met with swift rejection. Some coaxing by Mary Weston led to a concession and Whitney agreed to a drink and chat with Braden if they met at another bar on the crawl, but only if he remembered her name. Unfortunately for Braden, she had never given him her name. Fortunately for Braden, he had a group of friends looking for a side quest. Enlisting a group of ladies that were a part of his group, they procured Whitney’s name as well as talked up Braden to get the ball rolling. A few bars later and a few tipsy serenades on the piano, and Braden and Whitney both realized they had met someone very special. After going on a successful first date the following Monday, Braden was ready to pull out the stops with a rooftop dinner experience. Unfortunately, Whitney had double booked with a wedding scheduled in Greenville. Thinking quick on her feet, and with her friend Greer having an extra spot open, she invited Braden as her plus one. Having never heard of Greenville, South Carolina before, Braden hesitantly agreed, realizing it could quickly unravel or prove more than a daydream. A night spent enjoying good food and shutting down the dance floor quickly became a common theme. Through numerous trips across the US and the World, a swift rejection turned into a life-long partnership.