Our story began at AGR, where we first met during a typical college night filled with music, friends, and a lot of dancing. Hayes was someone everyone knew and loved, the kind of person who could light up a room without even trying. Somewhere in the middle of that night, what we like to call our “string theory” began. He asked Gray to go on an ice cream date, but at the time, the timing just wasn’t right. A year later, they ran into each other again, this time downtown Clemson. He was out with his friends, she was with hers, and naturally, they were all mutual friends. As Hunter Holland played country music in the background, we danced and caught up like no time had passed at all. Even though Hayes had to be on the road by 5 a.m. the next morning for an auction, this time we stayed in touch. The following week, Hayes took Gray on their first official date to Sole, a local Clemson favorite. From that night on, we were inseparable. There was a farewell gathering at Hayes’ house for his AGR buddies who were graduating, then church together the next week, where Gray, still so nervous, accidentally wore two different shoes. Somehow, that only became part of the story. From there came trips with friends, late nights, early mornings, and countless memories that started to weave our lives together. On March 3rd, 2024 Hayes asked Gray to be his girlfriend, and what began with a missed ice cream date turned into the beginning of something steady, intentional, and meant to be. The rest is history. Hayes graduated from Clemson in May of 2024, while Gray had one more year ahead of her. Long distance came with early mornings, late-night calls, and a lot of weekend drives, but it passed quickly. In May of 2025, Gray graduated from Clemson and moved down to Charleston. What began in a small college town has grown into a life we are now building side by side, starting with getting married, our home and the future we’re creating together.