Emily and Eli met their freshmen year at Loyola University of New Orleans. Natural friends from the start, their relationship grew close over the next two years. Those around them thought surely they would end up together. But, life took them in different directions junior year when Eli studied in Chile for the fall semester, while Emily studied in Spain for spring. Emily returned to New Orleans the summer before senior year just as Hurricane Isaac came through, knocking out power for a week. With no electricity, Eli and his roommates opened their house nightly for their friends, Emily included. They grilled out, drank warm beer, and lost count of the songs they sang together out on the front porch. After a year apart, Eli knew he couldn't wait any longer to take their friendship further. During that same week Eli told Emily how he felt, and to no one's surprise but their own, Emily felt the same way. After graduating, Eli took a job in Atlanta, Emily began medical school in Charleston, and they found themselves apart once again. For nearly five years Emily and Eli saw each other at every opportunity, their love continuing to grow. Then, in the fall of 2017 at Victoria Valley Vineyard just outside of Table Rock State Park in South Carolina, Eli knelt and asked Emily to marry him. Today, they are eagerly counting down the days until they say, “I do,” to the rest of their lives together, and to celebrating it all with you.