We can’t wait to say I Do!

It all started in 2019, though not in the most traditional way. We “met” through a Western Carolina University Instagram page that allowed incoming students to post pictures and bios to help find roommates. While I was looking for a roommate… I was also secretly hoping I might come across my future husband. With the help of a high school friend, I found my amazing freshman roommate on that page, but I also found Michael Lewis (yes, I called him by his full name). I showed all of my best friends his post and told them confidently, “Michael Lewis is going to be my husband one day.” I thought he was adorable, but I was too nervous to actually talk to him. Eventually, I followed him and we started chatting on Snapchat. We didn’t hang out in person right away, honestly, any time I saw him on campus, I’d walk the other way or pretend I was on the phone because I was so nervous! My freshman year was full of transitions, and I struggled being away from my family. I even considered transferring. But somewhere in the middle of that chaos, I mustered up the courage to ask, “So… when are you going to take me out on a date?” That’s when everything changed. Our first date was at Speedy’s Pizza in Sylva, North Carolina (RIP Speedy’s—gone but never forgotten). He was the most respectful, thoughtful, and gentlemanly guy I had ever met. I knew that if he liked me even half as much as I liked him, we would end up together forever. He eventually asked me to be his girlfriend...in my freshman dorm room...not the most glamorous proposal, but I still cherish that memory. It took him forever to kiss me first, so I beat him to it when it came to saying “I love you” first. We made our way through college together, side by side. We made incredible lifelong friends, leaned on each other, and learned what it meant to truly grow up with someone. Western Carolina will always hold a special place in our hearts because it gave us the gift of each other, and so many unforgettable memories. It shaped our story, and we wouldn’t trade it for the world. Over the years, we built a life full of little milestones—like adopting our sassy and sweet cat Tallulah a.k.a. Toots (yes, I turned Michael into a cat person), and later, our sweet golden retriever Goose, who came into our lives at just the right time. After five years of laughter, growth, adventures, and unconditional love, Michael proposed on our five-year anniversary at his Grandparents' house on Mountain Island Lake—though we didn’t even realize it was our exact anniversary date until my sister gifted us an ornament with the date November 23 written on it. That tiny detail made everything feel even more special. It was another one of those divine moments that reminded us this was all part of God’s plan. Of course, our journey has had its ups and downs—but through it all, we’ve grown stronger, more faithful, and more in love. There are so many pieces of our story that can’t even be put into words, but we feel incredibly grateful to be writing the next chapter together. So now… Let’s live this life together!!!