The year was 2017 -- Carlie lived in Orlando and was a UCF student, and Brandon lived in Sarasota and worked for Publix. Carlie had come home from college for Thanksgiving to visit her family. At the time, Brandon worked with Carlie's older sister, Calie. Carlie and Calie posted a picture together that Thanksgiving morning which caught Brandon's eye. Brandon quickly messaged Calie to ask if her sister was single -- and lucky for him, Carlie was. That very Thanksgiving, Brandon and Carlie starting texting, snap-chatting, and became very good pen pals while Carlie was in school. That December, Carlie came back home for Christmas break and thats really when the sparks started. Brandon finally asked Carlie on a date to watch the sunset at Turtle Beach. Brandon then took Carlie to dinner that evening where they talked about life goals and how each of them longed for a successful career and to live a fun and spontaneous life. Their love for one another started to blossom from then on out. Carlie went back to school after that holiday break and Brandon would visit her in Orlando almost every weekend. Brandon would go out of his way to convince his manager to let him take Saturdays off just so he could spend one day with her a week. Week after week, Brandon would drive to Orlando to stay with her. Summer 2018 rolled around and Carlie moved home for the summer, well, moved in with the Duffy's and spent the summer at his family house. They spent the summer making memories fishing and working along side each other at Publix. As summer came to an end and Carlie was getting ready to move back to school again, Brandon decided that he couldn’t take the long distance anymore, so he told Publix he was moving, and within a couple weeks, he joined her in Orlando. Brandon and Carlie lived in Orlando for four years together as they both focused on school and work. Carlie landed her dream job working as a Marketing Executive and Brandon was working his way up into Publix management. Years later, Brandon got an opportunity of a lifetime to work as a boat salesman back in Sarasota. Brandon quickly took the job and moved back home while Carlie stayed back to convince her boss that she could work fully remote. After four months of being distant again, Carlie was finally able to move back home so they could start their new life in Sarasota together. Brandon asked Carlie to marry him on May 15, 2024. She said YES of course! Brandon and Carlie have been together since they were 21 and 20, spending almost all their twenties together, raising their baby Mako, growing into their careers, buying their first home, and constantly pushing each other to be the best version of themselves. On March 7th, 2026 they will finally say "I Do", and marry each other just like they envisioned so many years ago. Thank you to each and every person who has supported our relationship over the years. Your support, love, and guidance doesn't go unnoticed.