We’re getting married!!!

Caitlin and Hilton found each other through the online dating app, Hinge. To this day, they can’t agree on who asked who out first lol! Needless to say, Hilton and Caitlin met the very next day in Downtown Charleston at Minero Restaurant. Their lunch date went so well, they ended up getting lost in conversation for 3 hours!

Hilton and Caitlin realized they shared a love of travel and adventure. Over the next 3 years they visited California and explored Napa, Sonoma, and San Francisco. They went to NYC for Caitlin's brother's wedding. They visited Hilton's best friend in Virginia where they went white-water rafting together for the 1st time. Hilton fell out of the raft more than once lol! They celebrated New Years in Belize. They celebrated Hilton's 40th in Oregon visiting Hilton's friends, going skydiving, and enjoying the wineries in Willamette Valley. They flew to Nashville twice in 1 year, and Hilton got to show Caitlin his college town. Her country music loving heart loved this city the most! A few other rafting trips and romantic getaways were peppered into their love story. In between their adventures, Hilton moved in with Caitlin while they built their custom home in Mount Pleasant. This was their most rewarding project thus far together. And then they adopted their dog Veda to complete their family of 4 with Violet.

As most of you all know, Caitlin is quite the investigator, so a surprise proposal was going to be tough! Mission One, Hilton had to buy a ring without her knowing. The diamond sales guy and Hilton were able to keep things under wraps and the perfect diamond and setting were paired in time for their trip to Mexico. Mission Two, ask Caitlin’s father close enough to their departure that contact between him and Caitlin would not give any chance of a slip up! Mission Three, get the ring to Mexico without Caitlin or TSA digging it out of his carry on. Mission Four, figure out where and when to do it. Hilton had no idea upon arrival of where, but he knew he wanted to avoid his mother’s birthday of December 28th and before New Year’s Eve while arriving on December 27th. Given Caitlin’s skill at sniffing out the ring or Hilton making any leading comments he decided the 29th would be best. As far as location, the resort had so many great ones, but there was a beachfront fire pit that always seemed to be unoccupied. Hilton, very cool and nonchalantly, asked Caitlin earler that day where her favorite place at the resort was and she said there. So Hilton said they should get some pictures together there that evening before dinner.

Mission Five, get the ring in his pocket to the fire pit photo session without Caitlin seeing it. The box wasn’t going to work, so the ring was flying solo in my pocket. Hilton was regretting the teardrop point of the diamond at this stage which was either poking his leg or out. Mission Six, upon arrival to the fire pit, Hilton discovered that right before dinner is apparently when the fire pit goes from unoccupied to fully occupied! So now a decision had to be made, either abort mission, or push through and improvise. He knew Caitlin would prefer less of an audience, but he also knew that both of them would be happier to be engaged then vs later. So Hilton decided to continue as planned. Mission Seven, find a photographer. Two options, one, a couple they had met the previous day were some of the many occupants of the popular fire pit. Second option, grab a waiter. Hilton decided to ask a waiter named Carlos. He was a slightly older guy and he was actually great! He took a few pictures and as he was handing Hilton back his phone Hilton asked if he could take just one more picture while he slid the ring out of his pocket. At that moment, Hilton knew it was right and he went down on one knee. Carlos got excited, the audience all turned, and Caitlin turned almost as red as her dress! Hilton asked Caitlin to marry him and showed her the ring. It didn’t take Caitlin long and she said YES!!!