Evan and Carina met as co-workers and it wasn't until a year after they started working together that they started to form a friendship. They would talk more and more at work, then one night, Evan invited Carina out to hang with a few co-workers after the company Christmas party. She was hesitant but decided to go anyway. At the end of the evening, Evan walked Carina to her car and told her to get home safe and gave her a hug and then proceeded to kiss her on top of her head....yes you read that right. On TOP of her head. Not a sweet peck on the forehead, literally dead center on top of her head. Carina found this as odd as we are sure you are right now. However, it was that kiss that they would remember for years to come because that kiss is what started it all. Over the next few months Evan and Carina would hang out outside of work more, talk a little more, but nothing ever progressed past friendship. That is until May when Evan asked Carina out on their first official date.

When Evan and Carina finally realized that they both wanted more than a friendship, Evan asked Carina out on a date. Carina didn't say yes right away...she made him wait but eventually said yes. Evan told Carina to wear comfortable clothes and that he would pick her up. So Carina threw on some jeans and a nice top and when Evan showed up, he was wearing clothes that told Carina they were going on an adventure... Evan had planned on taking Carina hiking up House Mountain. Once he told her what the plan was, she changed and they were on their way. It was the perfect first date. Evan & Carina both love the outdoors and on the hike they talked about what a relationship meant to each of them, family, hobbies, career and whatever else they could fit into the two hour hike. It wasn't until May 25th 2014 that Evan & Carina decided to make things "Official". This is 5 months after that Awkward kiss on the top of the head.

On May 25th 2018, Evan and Carina celebrated four years together, however they weren't able to really celebrate until a few weekends later. They decided to take a weekend away and head up to Gatlinburg. The arrived at the Park Vista Hotel on Friday, June 8th. They spent the evening in Gatlinburg playing tourist. That night, Evan asked Carina if she wanted to go up to Clingman's Dome the next morning and do a sunrise hike. Carina quickly said yes. A morning hike wasn't out of the norm for them, even a spontaneous one. So Carina thought nothing of it. The morning of the proposal, Evan wakes Carina up hours before the sun is set to rise. She put on shorts and a tank top, he put on long sleeves....looking back, Carina should have known something was going on when he dressed for the weather and she didn't. It was FREEEEEEEZZZZING when they arrived to Clingmans Dome. Evan looked at Carina and asked if she would rather watch the sun rise instead of the hike that would have been miserable for her due to the fact that she was dressed for summer in winter temps. So Evan found the perfect spot and they watched the sunrise. It was breathtaking. After the sun was up, Evan asked Carina if she wanted to drive to the other side of the lot to see that view. See Clingman's Dome is HUGE and the views are breathtaking. This particular morning the fog and clouds made it look like water was rolling over the mountain tops. Anyway, they drove to the other side, found the perfect spot (Evan drove until he found a spot where no one else was around). They got out and Evan set up his phone on top of his car as he usually does. They pose for the picture, but the shutter isn't going off. Evan is fidgeting in his pocket and once Carina realized what was happening, he was down on one knee asking her to be his forever. It was the perfect proposal. Evan proposed to Carina with his grandmothers 40th anniversary diamond that he had reset into a diamond band.