We’re getting married!

Brooke and Parker first met back in middle and high school, only in passing, with a few exchanged words, fleeting glances, & Parker once holding a "Slammin Hammons" sign at Brooke's state volleyball game. They both went on to attend different universities in Kentucky, and although they had some mutual friends and almost bumped into each other a few times, their paths did not intertwine. It wasn't until they both moved to Charleston, SC that their story began. What started with casual messages soon blossomed into unexpected encounters around town, and within a few weeks, they discovered their apartments were just a block apart. Before long, they were inseparable, spending every moment together. After a month filled with endless conversations and laughter, Parker asked Brooke to be his girlfriend, and the rest is history.

It was our three-year anniversary trip to Charleston, and while Brooke had her suspicions, she hadn’t found any proof to confirm them. Parker decided to recreate our first official date, but with a little more romance—this time, a private sunset boat ride instead of a group outing with friends. He and the captain tricked Brooke together telling her that others had canceled because of the storm earlier in the week, and that we were “lucky” to have the boat to ourselves. Parker may have accidentally spilled a drink on himself before popping the question, and he definitely had Brooke a bit confused when he was sweet-talking her in front of the captain while they were supposed to be posing for a photo. Then, Parker got down on his knee and asked Brooke to marry him, adding, “I will love you until we are 80 and older”—something the two often say to one another. Brooke stayed in shock for the rest of the night, shouting to a nearby boat, “WE ARE ENGAGED!” and knocking over her champagne glass at Felix, the restaurant the two went to both the night of their first date and engagement. The next morning, we woke up at sunrise to take engagement photos at our favorite beach, keeping the secret for a few days to soak in the magic of the city where we fell in love.

You might be wondering, why Tennessee? Brooke and Parker have lived in Kentucky, South Carolina, and Texas, so it's not where you'd expect their wedding to be. But what most people don't know is that some of their earliest trips and most cherished memories were made in Tennessee—whether it was hiking, having fun at the lake house in Dandridge, or spending hours in an arcade at night in Gatlinburg. And here’s a fun tidbit: it was during one of these trips that Brooke realized she was in love with Parker. The joy, love, and peace they feel in Tennessee make it the perfect place to say, "I do." Now, they're so excited to share that same love and happiness with all of you.