Our story begins in high school where Derek and I first met. We were friends for several years, hanging out in the same friend group. Following high school, we joined the military and went our separate ways. Derek got stationed at Fort Campbell, KY. We reconnected in the summer of 2015 when I was on a road trip. I was driving through Kentucky and remembered this was where Derek was stationed. I decided to reach out to see how he was. It had been a couple of years since graduating high school, so Derek told me to stop on the way back through. He said he would appreciate seeing a familiar face from home since he didn’t see his family all that often. We met in Nashville and caught up over dinner. It was like no time had passed between us. I guess this is where we say it officially began! Over the next year, we spent many 12-hour road trips traveling back and forth to visit each other on long weekends. I eventually moved down to Kentucky with Derek. We got our first apartment together and made some of our favorite memories here. We spent most of our free time camping, kayaking, and fishing at Land Between the Lakes (National Forest in Kentucky). In 2017, we finally moved back home together. Over the next six years, we finished college, started our careers, traveled, camped, and spent time with friends and family. Fast forward to April 2023. Derek and I traveled to Cancun for vacation. On our second night there, we had plans to have dinner on the beach. While we waited for dinner, we walked along the beach and asked another couple to take a photo of us. After one photo, Derek turned towards me and got down on one knee. The couple even managed to get a video of the proposal, so we can cherish that moment forever! Following the proposal, in the fall of 2023, we purchased our first home together. We are blessed with a beautiful home where we can continue to make our own over the years to come! It didn’t take us long after buying a house to welcome our golden retriever, Moose, to the family. We truly appreciate all the love and support we have received in the last 8+ years together. We could not be more excited for this next chapter in our lives and to share our wedding day with you!