They say when you know, you know, and for us, it was a no-brainer from the start. Our story began on July 27, 2023, at a local café in Townsville. Caitlin, true to her laid-back style, showed up fresh post her run of night shifts, dressed in activewear with minimal makeup. When Carl later brought it up, Caitlin’s response was classic: “Well, this is what I look like, so if you don’t like me like this, I can’t see us getting along.” Lucky for Caitlin, Carl was more than ready to embrace her sass and natural beauty! It didn’t take long for us to become inseparable—just ask Caitlin’s family about her August trip home last year. Some might say she was like a smitten teenager, glued to her phone, talking to Carl! Since that first meeting, we’ve shared countless adventures and spent hours talking and planning for our future together. In May, Carl and Caitlin were enjoying a typical evening at home—Carl cooking dinner and Caitlin on the couch knitting – like the old souls we are! After chatting about our future goals, we decided we wanted to get married in April 2025. Carl had expertly tricked Caitlin into thinking a proposal was far off, while secretly working on the perfect surprise. A morning shopping spree on the Gold Coast with Caitlin’s mum and sister-in-law was the perfect cover. After picking Caitlin up—when she really didn’t want to stop shopping—we enjoyed a beautiful walk around Burleigh Heads and, of course, played some Monopoly Deal. Carl likes to claim he was too preoccupied to win, which is why Caitlin beat him three times in a row! Then, in a perfect moment, Carl got down on one knee and asked Caitlin to marry him. It was a day filled with love, laughter, and celebrations. We are thrilled to invite you to celebrate with us as we take the next step in our journey and become Mr. and Mrs. Downey. We can’t wait to share this unforgettable day with you!