Some could say that Natalie and Eric met in Mrs Merbitz’s first-grade class. Most people know their meeting was freshman year of high school when a mutual friend re-introduced them during lunch. Their friendship was limited to waves in the hallway, until the fine arts formal when Natalie spent more time talking and laughing with Eric than with her date. They lost contact over that summer and it wasn’t until they ran back into each other at the beginning of sophomore year at a friend’s birthday party that things started happening. After many long and awkward walks in the hallway together, Eric finally found the courage to ask her out after a football game. She, of course, said yes, and off they were to Go USA for minigolf, go-karts, and lots of ski ball. From that moment Natalie and Eric’s relationship only blossomed through the rest of their time in High School. College began a new chapter as Natalie went on to college in Chattanooga and Eric stayed home and went to trade school. Long distance presented many challenges, but through late-night phone calls and many trips to Chattanooga by Eric, they made it work. Through that year apart they both learned a lot about what they wanted to do, resulting in them switching places where Eric was attending college in Chattanooga, and Natalie was back to living and working in Murfreesboro. After even more long-distance in 2023, they decided they were ready to get married and move to Chattanooga. This is what led to one cold December night when Eric got down on one knee and asked Natalie to marry him, she said yes before he could get any words out of his mouth. 10 months later they’re excited to celebrate their commitment to each other with all of their friends and family.