C & C

We met on Hinge, of all places. My first thought was that Christian was far too confident for me. His very first message said, “The wait is over,” and I laughed and told my coworkers I was just hanging out with “Virginia” (his secret nickname) for fun. I had no idea how wrong I was. Christian quickly became the most loyal, goofy, supportive, passionate, and intentional person I have ever known. He gives his whole heart to everything he does. Every trip we take is planned down to the tiniest detail because of him. Every meal, every activity, every dessert, and every picture is perfectly thought out to make it special. I still think about our first trip (to DC), which felt like a little movie thanks to his planning. Not long after that, we were in Panama City Beach when my parents mentioned a random dog who needed a home. Her name was Lilly. I remember how easy it was to talk through that big decision together and how natural it felt to want his opinion and to make that choice with him. That was the moment I knew we were becoming a team. Lilly became Goldie, and Goldie has been the best thing to ever happen to us in the whole world. When Christian asked me to be his girlfriend, the champagne was already poured and every word he said was so thoughtful and genuine. Then came the night he asked me to marry him. The photographer, our families standing in the back, our friends waiting with the most perfect charcuterie boards, and a ring I could have only DREAMED of, it was everything I could have wished for. I cannot wait to marry you, Christian.

What stood out to me most about Carlie is how deep her love and loyalty ran for the people she cares about. I noticed that very early on in our relationship. Whether it’s me, her family, her friends, or the one and only Goldie (our dog), she always goes above and beyond to make sure the people she loves are taken care of. As for the moment it clicked for me, I can’t say there was one single instant when I knew Carlie was the one. It was more like a few moments overtime where I felt something changing in me, something I couldn’t really explain except that I was falling in love. I remember the first time I really felt that shift. At the time, she was living in North Carolina, and I was in Virginia. We’d been traveling back and forth every week to see each other, and after a month of that, we had one week where we couldn’t hang out because we both had other things going on. That entire week, I felt off like a part of me was missing. I didn’t understand why at first then, the next time we saw each other, that feeling disappeared. That’s when I realized what had been missing was her. Carlie was that missing piece, and I felt connected to her in a way I’d never felt with anyone before. That was one of the moments when it clicked for me that she was the one. I still find new reasons to admire her all the time. It’s not just her natural beauty, but that she truly lights up every room she walks into it’s the strength, kindness, and warmth she carries within her. I admire the way she shows up every day: for herself, for me, and for the life we’re building together. Just seeing her face after a bad day will turn my whole day around. I couldn’t be more excited to spend the rest of my life with her. We’ve already made some amazing memories, but this is only the beginning, and I can’t wait to create so many more together.