It was December 2022, and Zach, stationed in Corpus Christi, was preparing to drive home to South Carolina for the holidays. Planning out his trip, Zach determined that Baton Rouge marked the half-way point, making it an ideal place to stop and rest for the night. Having never visited before and curious to tour the area, he did what anyone in his situation would do- adjusted his Hinge location to Baton Rouge a few days prior to leaving. Enter Emilie. A sweet, down-to-earth former LSU cheerleader, with an enchanting snow-covered cover photo that made Zach smile every time he saw it. And just like that, he was hooked. The two exchanged messages, quickly falling into an easy rhythm of conversation. There was something about Emilie—her kindness, her wit—that Zach couldn’t get enough of. Sure enough, Emilie was equally enthralled by Zach’s impeccable charm and alluring phone voice. Before long, Emilie agreed to show him around her cherished college town. On December 21, 2022, Emilie met Zach downtown, and they went for dinner at Rocca Pizzeria, a cozy spot that made the evening feel intimate from the get-go. Zach, despite his usual cool composure, couldn’t help but feel a little nervous. So much so, that he found himself eating his pizza with a fork—something he’d never done before. Emilie, being the good sport that she was, didn’t mind in the least. They spent hours talking and laughing, the kind of effortless conversation where you lose track of time and don’t want the night to end. But eventually, the restaurant closed, and they parted ways, each feeling an undeniable connection. Zach could not stop thinking about Emilie as he made his way home to South Carolina for the holidays. Not willing to ignore the chemistry, Zach found himself “Callin’ Baton Rouge” each night while he was home. The connection continued to grow, and Zach decided to leave home a day early to spend more time with Emilie. When Zach came back to Baton Rouge, Emilie showed him the ropes of the city, taking him to places only locals would know. Her parents, curious about this new guy she’d been talking about, put Zach through a brief vetting process. But by then, it didn’t matter—Zach was already falling for Emilie in a way that felt undeniable. They rang in the new year together at LAuberge Casino, and Emilie, excited about where things were going, agreed to join Zach for the second half of his trip back to Corpus Christi. From that point on, it was clear: this was no longer just a holiday fling. It was the beginning of something beautiful. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Zach knew, from the moment he met Emilie, that she was the one. And though it might have taken time for everything to line up, one thing remained constant: he was going to marry her. But knowing when and how to ask was a puzzle that would take all of his patience, creativity, and a little bit of luck. His plan started months in advance. Tiger Stadium, the heart of LSU football in Baton Rouge, was where Emilie’s heart raced every time the Tigers took the field. It wasn’t just a stadium—it was her place. And Zach, a newly inducted Tiger fan (by default, of course), knew that’s where he would propose. But it wasn’t that simple. As LSU surged toward a playoff spot, Zach found himself secretly hoping for a loss. The closer it got to December 21, their two-year anniversary, the more Zach realized how many moving parts there were—and how many were out of his control. By December, Zach had everything in place except one key detail: the stadium. He had the ring, the photographer, and even the proposal props shipped to her brother in Baton Rouge. But still no stadium reservation. Worse, Zach would be on a desert exercise from December 10-19, meaning limited communication. He had to trust everything would fall into place. When the College Football Playoff Selection Show revealed that LSU didn’t make the cut, Zach sprang into action. A few phone calls later, he got the call he’d been waiting for: the stadium was reserved. The proposal was on. There were still challenges ahead. Zach and Emilie had 12 hours to pack, drop the dogs off, and catch a flight to New Orleans. Unfortunately, delays and holiday travel chaos made their flight a nightmare. They didn’t land until midnight on December 20. Despite the exhaustion, Zach kept his cool. In November, he’d told Emilie her anniversary gift would be a couples photoshoot—nothing out of the ordinary. Emilie picked out outfits, got her nails done, and had no idea the photoshoot was part of the plan. On the afternoon of December 21, as they neared the stadium, Emilie joked, “Are we doing it at the stadium?” Zach, a little too quickly, shot back, “Pshh, who do you think I am?” But when they pulled into the parking lot, there was no escaping it. A stadium employee was waiting for them. Emilie thought it was a surprise anniversary tour, but as they were led through the locker rooms and down hallways, her suspicions grew. They reached the chute—a corridor leading to the field. Music started to play, and Emilie gasped when she saw the proposal setup: flowers, candles, signs—and their families, lining the sides. Emilie’s eyes went wide. Zach, heart racing, could barely speak. His hands shook as he stepped forward. “You are my favorite person,” he managed, “This is your favorite place. And we’re surrounded by our favorite people.” Then, with a shaking hand, Zach reached into his pocket, dropped to one knee, and pulled out the ring. Time seemed to freeze. “Will you marry me?” he asked. Emilie’s eyes filled with tears, and she nodded, barely able to speak. In that moment, surrounded by love and history, Zach knew he’d made the right choice—Emilie was his forever.