It all started on a festive New Year’s Eve when Haley went along with a friend to celebrate and meet some new people. From the first moment, there was a spark — Gregory greeted her with a big smile and a *very* generous pour of champagne. They quickly fell into easy conversation, sharing laughs and stories as the night went on. What was meant to be just another fun evening turned into the start of their incredible journey together.

Gregory drove over an hour and a half from Clemson to pick Haley up from her college dorm — a gesture that said a lot right from the start. They decided to try a Mexican restaurant neither of them had been to before, not knowing what to expect. It turned out to be a charming (and very loud) little spot, so packed they could barely hear each other speak. At least the food was good — which helped make up for the unfortunate lack of conversation during dinner. After dinner, they went axe throwing — because what better way to break the ice than by hurling sharp objects at a wall? Gregory won by a landslide (not that he's bragging or anything), but Haley held her own and had just as much fun. Once the adrenaline wore off, they sat in the car for a long while, finally able to talk. They shared stories about their lives, their dreams, and where they hoped to be in the future. Haley was struck by how confident and clear Gregory was about his goals — something that left a lasting impression. Looking back, that quiet conversation in a parking lot was the start of something much bigger than either of them realized.

Haley had a feeling something was coming — but kept talking herself out of it. Gregory had planned a “pre-birthday photoshoot” in the Clemson Botanical Gardens, knowing Haley had been hinting (not so subtly) that they hadn’t taken pictures since their six-month milestone. As they pulled in, the sky started to drizzle, and Gregory was clearly getting a little stressed. He had a whole plan in mind, complete with a photographer and a perfect spot picked out. But when they got there, the location was full of people, and the photographer kept gently suggesting they could come back by later to try again. Then it started raining a little more. Finally, Gregory looked at the photographer and said something along the lines of, “It’s now or never.” They rerouted and stopped under the most charming little pergola tucked beneath the trees. There, with the rain softly falling around them, Gregory got down on one knee. It was sweet, genuine, and completely perfect. Haley was as surprised as she could be (Gregory has never been great at keeping secrets), and she loved every second of it. That rainy day in the gardens turned into one of the happiest moments of their lives — the beginning of their next big adventure together.