After both graduating from Virginia Tech in the Spring of 2020, Haley and Payton found themselves in Norfolk, Virginia. Haley had started her first job out of college at Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) as an Engineer. Payton, who was enlisted in the Navy Reserve, was activated on Presidential Orders to assist NNSY in getting repairs to aircraft carriers back on track after COVID induced delays. Being that it was 2020, normal “dating” wasn’t an option for these new graduates, and as a lot of people did during this time, Haley and Payton resorted to online dating. After a few months of not so great experiences in the Norfolk dating pool, Haley and Payton eventually “swiped right” on each other in December 2020. After texting about both being new Virginia Tech grads and realizing their apartments were less than a quarter mile from each other, Payton asked Haley on a first date. On January 8, 2021, Haley and Payton went on their first date to The Veil Brewery, close to both of their apartments, which would eventually become one of their favorite date night spots. In the week that followed, they went on two more dates, one to watch the National Championship game over burgers at Jack Browns, and then brunch at Grain. They continued to go on dates, meet each others friends, even going on their first (and probably last lol) ski trip together. As the months went by, Haley and Payton’s relationship grew deeper with each other. With his Navy orders quickly coming to an end and with that, his imminent move to Melbourne, Florida, Haley decided to lay it all out over drinks at The Shack… “I’d really like to come visit you in Florida, but I don’t want to just visit a ‘friend’”. And with that, their officially relationship began on March 26, 2021. In between Payton’s move out of Norfolk and his move to Florida in July, Haley flew to visit Payton and met some of his family in Rochester, NY. In return, Payton spent a weekend with Haley and her family in Pittsburgh. Once Payton officially moved to Florida, they knew they wanted to see where this relationship would go, but the distance made it a struggle. They made it a point to visit each other monthly, until Haley decided to take a leap of faith and applied to a job with Lockheed Martin at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. By early December, she was on her way down with a U-Haul, ready to start her new tropical life! After continuing to grow their relationship at a much shorter distance, Haley and Payton officially moved in together in July of 2022. Over the course of their 2 years in Florida, they met some of their best friends, some of who are their bridesmaids and groomsman. Moving to Florida was one of the best decisions the two of them ever made, and they are eternally grateful for those friendships and experiences! In October 2023, Haley and Payton decided to go fully remote with their Florida jobs, packed another U-Haul, and moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, where they currently reside. After a rough 2024, highlighted by an apartment flood, a torn ACL/MCL/meniscus with two surgeries, and a hit-and-run car accident, Haley and Payton were both looking forward to what 2025 had in store. On June 21, 2025, Haley woke up to what she thought were plans to go hiking. Instead, Payton had booked a cabin and a wine tour van through the vineyards of Elkin, NC. Among the vines of Raffaldini Vineyards, Payton asked Haley to marry him, and of course she said yes! She called her family shortly after with the good news, and while on FaceTime, Haley and Payton were surrounded by monarch butterflies - a sign that all four of her grandparents were also celebrating with them. ~ We are so excited to celebrate this next chapter of our lives with our closest friends and family! We love you all!!