We met in graduate school, running in the same circles and knowing of each other—but not really knowing each other. That all changed when we ended up in the same massage therapy class. On the very first day, we were randomly partnered together and immediately thrown into what can only be described as a very awkward situation involving hands-on techniques and absolutely zero personal boundaries… talk about an icebreaker. From there, we started spending more time together with mutual friends and getting to know each other in a whole new way. One sushi date later sealed the deal—and the rest is history!

In April—just one weekend after we moved in together—Austin told me he was taking me on a fun surprise date. No details, no hints, and no pressure to dress up (which was perfect, because my nails were definitely not done). The night started at the same sushi spot where we had our first date, followed by drinks on a rooftop. Austin was very determined to stay on schedule, which finally made sense when we arrived at a beautiful botanical garden in Fort Worth. After wandering around for about thirty minutes—just the two of us—Austin asked the most important question, and I said yes! But the surprises weren’t over yet. Austin had one more plan up his sleeve: dinner surrounded by both our families and all of our closest friends. What started as an intimate proposal turned into a night full of love, celebration, and plenty of partying—and we wouldn’t have had it any other way.