Get Carrolled Away

Sean once told his mom there was no way he’d ever date someone outside of Houston—between work, soccer, softball, and going to tons of bachelor parties and weddings, his schedule was full enough. Then he met Emily. At the time, she was working and finishing grad school at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville. They matched (a few times), and after a few missed connections, finally decided to meet in the middle on Market Street in The Woodlands. Sean was impressed when Emily ordered a cucumber martini that wasn’t on the menu, and Emily loved the way Sean greeted every server by name like an old friend. They ordered brussels sprouts (which have since become a standing date-night tradition), walked under the Christmas lights, and ended up talking on a park bench for three hours. For the next few months, Tuesday nights became their routine–meeting halfway for dinner and drives through the Woodlands, stretching the night out with “one more look” at the Christmas lights. Eventually, Emily landed a job in Houston, graduated from SHSU, and their lives started to overlap in all the best ways. Now, they’re both settled in Houston—spending weekends at weddings, Aggie football games, and anywhere there’s good food (bonus points if there are brussels sprouts on the menu). They’ve been called a “golden retriever couple”—two people who love having fun, celebrating others, and bringing the energy everywhere they go. They make each other laugh every day and know when it’s time to slow down and just be still. Their friend groups have blended into one, and their families treat each other like their own—warm, welcoming, and always ready to celebrate, whether in Texas or Illinois. That same energy carried into the night Sean proposed. He’d told Emily they were hosting a small White Linen Night get-together the weekend they moved into their new house. Emily thought he was a little insane, but between unpacking boxes and the chaos of moving, it sounded reasonable enough. Before the “party,” they stopped by their favorite sushi spot, Soma Sushi—a place they’d always gone with friends, though this time it was just the two of them. After dinner, Sean's brother called and asked if they could grab his dog, Reid, from his workplace at a nearby cemetery—hardly the kind of place Emily imagined a proposal. They pulled up to a quiet overlook of the Houston skyline, and as Emily looked around for Reid, Sean said, “What about over here?” She turned to find him on one knee. She doesn't remember a word he said, but he claims she was nodding her head yes before he asked the age-old question, "Will you marry me?" When they got back home, the “small get-together” turned out to be a full-blown surprise party with nearly seventy family members and friends dressed in white, waiting to celebrate. It was chaotic, thoughtful, and full of love. In other words, perfectly them. It’s been quite a story so far, and they can’t wait to start the next chapter—with everyone they love right there beside them. So get ready for vows, brussels sprouts, and one big celebration!