The first time Ashley and Cody met, Cody plopped down on the couch next to her at a friend's Christmas party in December. Ashley didn't think much of it, other than "he is sitting very close to me", as she was traveling for an internship to South Carolina a week and a half later. Ashley returned from South Carolina the first week of March and lived with her grandma. Her cousin Cortney Wolters (soon-to-be Holtmeyer, bridesmaid) invited her to go out to Mexican with some of her friends at El Espolon, as they do every Thursday night. Cortney was going to night school at the time and stuck in a class which took her longer than expected, but Ashley went ahead and walked into the restaurant where Corey Holtmeyer (groomsman), Chris Burns (usher), and Cody were waiting for her. She ordered a large plate of nachos off the appetizer menu, ate the whole thing herself with her hands even though she should have used a fork, and it was love at first sight for Cody.

Ashley and Cody had a date night on Friday, as they usually do on Friday nights. Ashley had gotten her nails done with her sister Kara (Maid of Honor) earlier that week, so suspicions were growing, but she had no idea what Cody’s plans were. Cody drove them to the Daniel Boone Regional Library in Columbia, one of Ashley’s favorite places and a regular date night stop. There, he got down on one knee under the entrance awning and Ashley barely squeaked out a yes. They then went to dinner at 44 Stone, where Ashley’s family and Cody’s family were waiting for them.