We're getting married!

We met through our roommates during our junior year of college at East Carolina University. We ran into each other a couple of times at parties, but it was when he walked me home from downtown one night that we realized we really clicked. I had a little crush, but tried to brush it off at first because our roommates were dating at the time and thought it would be weird to start anything. Naturally, I tried to keep my distance. Johnnie however did the complete opposite, he texted me on and off for 6 months asking me how my day was and really tried to get to know me. He took a trip to topsail beach where my family and I would go every year for vacation, and brought back sand and shells from the Island. My first day back to school, after summer break, I noticed a gift in my room. Johnnie had made me a vase with a candle and the sand and shells from Topsail Beach because he knew that place held a special place in my heart (the vase will make an appearance at the wedding!!). In that moment, I had never felt more special and I knew this could be something good. We have been best friends ever since, never skipping a beat, reading each others minds, and finishing each others sentences. It was love at first sight, we just didn't know it yet!

We were on our annual family trip at Myrtle Beach, SC for the week of July 4th. It was a Tuesday and our family had planned to go out to eat at Local on the Water, for happy hour. That day everyone pitched in to decorate the pool area with string lights for the kids "birthday party" they said they were throwing. Everyone was very calm and Galen had NO IDEA what was about to happen. We get to the restaurant and the hostess sits us outside with a water view. Everyone commented on how hot it was but the view was worth it. Lane suggested that we go take pictures by the water before all of our makeup sweated off, and Galen was all for it. Little did Galen know she was about to get proposed to! Lane had Johnnie and Galen stand by the water as she took a couple of photos of them. Apparently, Galen was gripping so tight onto Johnnie that he couldn't get his hand in the back of his pocket to pull out the ring. Thinking on her toes and reading Johnnies mind, Lane told Galen to fix her hair. Lane knowing Galen so well, knew she would flip her hair and get all serious about it so it would have "body". As Galen flipped my hair back up, she look down at Johnnie and he is on one knee. Galen did NOT think this was REAL LIFE, she even said that out loud. Galen had no entire clue what he was saying, she just knew she wanted to hug him and say yes to spending the rest of my life with him. After the proposal, they went back to the house where Galen was surprised yet again. Johnnie had planned a surprise engagement party at the house where they were joined by Johnnies family and even their best friends Hunter and Wes Justis (who drove from Litchfield beach to celebrate with them). It was an amazing night and he could not of pulled off a better surprise and perfect engagement that they will always remember! They are so excited to celebrate this next chapter in our lives with you. See you in Iron Station, NC!