Two gingers walk into an Irish bar on St. Patrick's Day... cue the wedding bells! Grace and Michael met at Mickey's Tavern in East Nashville on St. Patrick's Day. They immediately bonded over a thrilling conversation about health insurance and both knew this was something special. After a couple of Jameson and gingers (fitting), they made their way to Dino's to get some snacks. They took two seats at the bar and struck up a conversation with Russ, a scraggly old man in PJs with an Australian accident (still not sure it was real). Russ looked at Michael and said, "How long have you all been together?" When Michael told Russ that we had just met, he responded, "No way. You all have been together for years." Russ saw what they were already feeling -- they just fit! As the night continued, Russ told them all about his band of seven bassoons he conducted and Grace ate the majority of the basket of fries they were going to "split." Michael learned an important lesson that night -- always order his own basket of fries. From that night on they have spent each moment falling more and more in love, rich with whiskey gingers and double fries.

In March of 2018, just days before meeting, Grace bought her first house in Germantown. Grace was never one to be scared to take on a challenge on her own, but she wished for someone to share this home with... someone who might be particularly more handy with a hammer than she ;) Enter Michael, with impeccable timing and handyman skills. On the first visit to Grace's house she mentioned that she wished she had a porch swing. Michael quickly replied, "I can build you a porch swing!" And he did... it's still standing! Hasn't fallen from the rafters once! Grace was beyond impressed. (And surprised she let a near stranger drill holes in the ceiling of her new home). They spent countless nights growing in their love for one another on the porch swing. Grace and Michael celebrated his five year anniversary of moving to Nashville on May 16, 2019 with dinner at one of their favorite spots, Butcher and Bee, and then a drink at Mickey's. But just one... which had Grace curious. Usually they'd stay for a couple, but Michael insisted on going home. Grace immediately put on her PJs when they got home (can you blame her??)... she had no idea what was in store! Michael didn't want to blow the surprise, so he couldn't ask her to put her fancy dress back on! He simply asked her to wait outside on the porch swing for him and he'd bring out a couple of Manhattans. He'd just have to propose to a girl in her PJs! With Manhattans in hand, Michael sat next to Grace on the porch swing in a very awkward position, as if he had something uncomfortable (like a ring box) in his back pocket. When Grace asked if he was uncomfortable, he dodged the question and began down a path that would change their future forever. On the same porch swing that he built her at the very beginning of their relationship, that they built their home around, Michael asked Grace to be his home forever. Obviously, because of his handyman skills, Grace said yes ;)