We can't wait to celebrate with you!

His Version: The story of how we met will always be a story for the ages. I was driving down to New Orleans to watch the NCAA Final Four basketball championships with a couple of my friends in April 2022 (Go Tar Heels!). During the 17 hour-long drive, I received a notification from a dating app that I had “matched with someone.” At the time, Carlie was still working in Alabama. Even though we drove nowhere near Carlie’s location, we still somehow matched on the app. We started talking on the app and I warned her I was not from the area, but that didn’t deter her at all. We continued to talk via text, in the app, and progressed to having weekly FaceTimes (although, it did take me about 2 months to convince Carlie that it would be safe to give me her phone number). As things moved along, we agreed we should meet in person and set up a date in Winchester, VA on Memorial Day Weekend 2022. After that date, we basically knew we were meant for each other. Of course, this is my version of events; you'll have to ask Carlie about her version of events… Her Version: After moving to Alabama, my coworkers at the office started persistently convincing me to try online dating. For months, they’d ask, “When are you going to let us set up your profile?” and after about six months of their gentle persuasion, I finally caved. I wasn’t expecting much, but they promised me it would be “fun.” I’ll admit, after a few conversations with people on the app, I was ready to give up. It just didn’t feel like it was going anywhere. Just before I was about to delete the app for good, I swiped right on Brett’s profile—and to my surprise, we matched! Still, I didn’t expect it to go beyond that. After all, my previous attempts hadn’t led to much, but I figured, why not send a message anyway? After almost running out of time to respond, Brett finally replied and was able to get my attention. We went back and forth for a while, exchanging thoughts and stories, but with the distance between us, I didn’t think much would come of it. But Brett, being persistent in the best way, eventually convinced me he wasn’t some “sketchy” guy (as I had feared), and I gave him my phone number. We began talking more, and even managed a few FaceTime calls. It didn’t take long for Brett to make it clear that he was serious about meeting in person. He asked me to consider meeting up for a date, and after a bit of back-and-forth, we agreed to plan something during Memorial Day weekend, when I would be visiting Winchester. Brett, who had never been to Winchester, insisted on coming there rather than having me travel to him. It felt like a small but thoughtful gesture, and he made it clear that he was going to plan the whole date. When the day came, we went to the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley, followed by dinner in Old Town Winchester, and ended with a fun round of bowling. It was the perfect mix of history, laughter, and good conversation. That date, one of the best I’d had in a long time, was the start of something neither of us had expected but both of us knew was worth pursuing. From that moment, our relationship blossomed. Our connection only grew deeper, and we both quickly realized that we’d found something really special in each other. What began as a simple swipe right has turned into an adventure we never could have imagined, and we’re excited to continue writing the next chapters of our story together.

His version: It was a last minute decision from Carlie to do youth group food prep all day on Saturday, so honestly, it was the perfect distraction. I didn’t plan it that way, but I’m glad it worked out. I helped her with all of the food prep during the day, including dropping off some of the food off at the church. A couple of weeks before, I told Carlie that I wanted to take her out to dinner on Saturday night, so I was hoping her guard was off and she would think nothing would happen. Little did she know that I had contacted a proposal photographer to come in and capture the moment where we had our first date a couple of years ago. I was hoping it would be a mild day and it turned out to be perfect. Beforehand, I sent Jo, our photographer, a detailed map on the landmarks and pictures at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley, including where I planned on proposing to her. As I mentioned before, Carlie was food prepping for youth group and we had to make a stop at the church. This trip was unplanned and not part of the schedule, which meant we would be running late. I tried to keep my cool even though I was so anxious. When we arrived at the Museum, Jo had been waiting almost an hour for us. I asked Carlie if she would like to walk outside first instead of going inside. It was always a routine to do the opposite, so I hoped she didn’t catch on. Once we got to the bridge where we had our first kiss, I dropped to one knee, my whole body shaking in the process. Weeks before this moment, I wrote and rehearsed a speech of what I was going to say, but I kinda blacked out and didn’t know what to say. I must have said something good because she did indeed say “Yes.” The whole experience was probably the most stressed I’ve ever been, but it was all worth it. We ended the night having dinner at the restaurant where we ate on our first date. Her version: That morning, I was wrapped up in food prep for the youth group at our church, my mind racing to get everything just right. Brett was patient, never showing any sign of frustration as I took longer than planned. I had told him I needed more time, especially since I had to deliver all the food to the church and store it in their fridge. He didn’t mind at all. He just told me we’d have dinner afterward, thinking it would be a typical evening out. But, little did I know, the evening would be far from ordinary… It was a perfect September day! The temperature was just right—comfortable enough for us to dress up without needing jackets, making it the perfect setting for what Brett had planned. The Museum had always been special to us; it was the place of our first date, and we had returned there many times since. I had no idea that this trip would be unlike any other. The gardens were as beautiful as ever, the perfect place for a stroll, and Brett suggested we start there. The sun warmed our faces as we walked along the paths, talking about the same things we had so often, but somehow, today felt different. We wandered deeper into the gardens, until we reached the very spot where we had shared our first kiss. Brett paused, turning to face me and, before I could even fully process what was happening, he dropped to one knee. I was completely taken off guard. Everything around me seemed to blur for a moment. I was so stunned by the question that I couldn’t speak at first. Instead of words, I nodded—over and over, my heart racing. Finally, I managed to whisper, “Yes.” But even then, it was more the nodding that conveyed my joy, my shock, and my overwhelming love for him. As I looked up, I noticed a photographer—Brett had thought of everything. It was the perfect place for our new beginning.