The story of when we first met begins back in 2009. Evie and I are both Sophomores at Wando High School. She is on the color guard, and I play trumpet in the marching band. We know of each other, but never actually talked. We have a couple classes together, but never sat next to each other. Fast-forward to the year 2010. Evie is still on the color guard. I am still playing trumpet for the marching band. It’s Junior year, and the buzz around school is who is taking who to the Prom. So, I had the brilliant idea of asking my crush; however, I still hadn’t actually spoken to her. I started it how every conversation starts in high school…with a Facebook message. This Facebook message began with what is now known between Eve and her friends with the line, “Long time no talk.” I asked her if she wanted to go on a date with me, and she took the bait! Our first date was sushi at Yamato’s. Little did I know, she was allergic to shrimp (turns out she’s not allergic to shrimp, but we discovered this years later), which drastically reduced her food options. After sushi, we went to see the Leonardi DiCaprio classic, Shutter Island. Again, little did I know that Eve had a curfew. In the middle of the movie, Eve told me she had to go home because it was already past her curfew. Great start, Ryan. As the buzz of prom was nearing, I came to school one day and one of my friends, who knew I wanted to take Eve to prom, told me that someone else was asking her that day! Great. So, I swooped in during lunch and quickly asked her if she would go to Prom with me before the other guy could ask. And she said yes! I felt horrible for swooping in, but things worked out pretty great for him too (he is married to his high school sweetheart as well). We went to prom and had the best time. I was falling head over heels for her. The next week, I asked her to be my girlfriend. Over the next 9 years, our love grew into something more than we could have ever imagined at age 16 and 17.

We were discussing plans for Ryan's birthday weekend. He was living with my parents in Mt. Pleasant for an internship and I was staying in Columbia (due to some unforeseen spiders) and commuting to Augusta. We planned to go to dinner Saturday, since I would be driving back to Augusta on his actual birthday. We went to Water’s Edge and had a wonderful dinner. After we finished, I begged Ryan to go get a drink or watch the sunset. Ryan refused and said he wanted to go home and watch Netflix (not our least favorite plans). We drove home and on the way I had my first midlife crisis (Who needs to use their Master's degree anyway?). We pulled up to the house as I dried my tears (yes, tears) and I see twinkle lights on the gazebo my family built the summer before. We open the gate to my backyard, reality hits me, and the tears start pouring. As Ryan nudged me forward, I see photos from our junior prom pinned around the lights. But the kicker for my sappy heart was the recreated corsage from prom, sitting next to the original I had saved. Ryan got down on one knee, and asked me to marry him! (Finally) ;) The night wasn't over because little did I know the place I wanted to go after dinner, was holding all our family and friends who came for the night! It was the most wonderful day!