Told by Gage! We met on a random weekend in Charlotte. My college roommate (freshman year through senior year) had a best friend from home who went to the University of Florida, and he just happened to be moving to Charlotte. Random, I know. It was his first weekend in town, and he mentioned going out to meet up with someone he knew from UF. She was bringing two friends, so of course, he needed backup. That night, I met Elizabeth. We were all fresh out of college and just starting our careers. It basically felt like college again, but with a little money in our pockets. That night was easy, fun, and full of good energy. Everyone just got along. And toward the end of the night, I leaned over to my buddy and said, “I’m going to be with that beautiful girl.” That girl was Elizabeth. For the first year and a half in Charlotte, Elizabeth and I were just friends. Part of the same friend group, hanging out, figuring out adulthood, and building a new rhythm in a new city. A few months after we met, COVID hit and the world shut down. Everyone went remote except me, and life changed overnight. But in the middle of all that uncertainty, something steady and meaningful started to form between us. We started a weekly dinner tradition with our crew called “Supper Club.” Every Wednesday, we’d cook a family-style meal, hang out, and enjoy each other’s company. It became the highlight of the week, one that often required blocking your Thursday morning calendar because Wednesday nights always ran late. Week after week, through laughter, long conversations, and quiet moments, Elizabeth and I got closer. Not as a couple yet, but as people. And before anything romantic ever happened, we built something real. Eventually, after a little persistence, I caught her eye and she gave me a shot. We started hanging out outside the group, but of course, in secrecy. We didn’t want to risk things getting weird if it didn’t work out. Mostly, Elizabeth wanted to move in silence. I wasn’t worried. I knew we’d end up together. After a while of very poorly sneaking around, we finally decided to make things official. We went to a nice dinner at The Crunkleton on January 21st, 2021, and that’s when it all truly began. By that point, I had known for two years that she was the girl I would marry and start a life with. To make sure that happened, I planned a surprise (well, mostly just to her) Valentine’s weekend trip in 2025. I told her last-minute that we were heading to Charleston the following weekend. To throw her off, I made up a few fake plans, including a “Wine in the Garden” event at Magnolia Plantation. She almost caught on when she asked what to wear… I gave one too many opinions on white outfits during a shopping trip to Anthropologie. After our visit to the plantation, I told her we were stopping by a park I had been to a long time ago (another fake story). That place was Hampton Park, and it was actually the spot where I was proposing. I’d been calm all day, but those final minutes hit different. I left the car door open. Forgot my jacket.. even though it was 50 degrees. But when the moment came, I got down on one knee and asked her to marry me. Thankfully, she said yes. We then met up with our families, who I had secretly brought to town, for a beautiful dinner celebration. And the next day, we returned home for one final surprise: our Charlotte & Greensboro friends had put together an engagement party to welcome us back. And now, here we are, getting ready to say “I do.” Still just two people who happened to meet in the wild. We can’t wait to celebrate with all of you, share our story, and be surrounded by the people who mean the most to us. Thank you for being part of this next chapter!