Lissette and Eric met at an out-of-town wedding. Lissette was a bridesmaid, and Eric was a friend of the groom. By fate (and a thoughtful seating chart - thank you Bri & Garrett), they were placed next to each other at dinner. The guest favors were lottery tickets, and while neither of them won, Eric joked that he had already won the lottery of life with a wonderful family, incredible friends, his dog Poppy, and a career he enjoyed. Lissette was immediately taken by his outlook on life. What started as small talk over scratch offs turned into hours of conversation, and by the end of the night, they had discovered they lived in the same neighborhood, had the same kind of dog, and were both deeply rooted in Charlotte with families they are incredibly close to. Just four weeks later, they booked a scuba diving trip to Roatán, Honduras. The universe decided to test their brand-new relationship with flight delays, a missed connection, lost baggage, and an unexpected overnight in Miami. The way they laughed through the chaos felt like a glimpse of how they would handle life together. On February 6, 2026, Eric proposed at Lissette’s parents’ home, surrounded by both of their families and the couple who introduced them. What Lissette thought was an early birthday gift turned out to be a blanket that read, “Lissette, will you marry me? – Eric.” Right on cue, Bucky and Poppy came running in wearing custom bandanas. Bucky’s read “Please say yes,” and Poppy’s read “Please marry my dad.” Bucky proudly carried the ring box attached to his collar. Now their dogs are best friends (with a very sweet brother-sister dynamic), and Lissette and Eric are counting down the days until September 12 when they officially become a family!