We’re getting married!

Holly and Bill first met in 2006 through mutual friends. Early encounters included a dorm pie-eating contest—where Holly placed second and Bill was suitably impressed—and dancing together at Holly’s 21st birthday at Tir Na Nog in 2009. Over the years, they crossed paths often enough to know they enjoyed each other’s company, but rarely enough to never quite act on it. There was a little spark, a little curiosity, and plenty of easy conversation—just never the right timing. That finally changed thirteen years later when Holly moved next door to one of Bill’s good friends in Raleigh. One summer evening in 2022, Bill stopped by her porch and joked, “I thought you’d be married off by now!” Porch swings, drinks, great music, and a spontaneous road-trip plan quickly followed. That six-hour drive turned into a weekend of lake swims, sunset watching, and late-night conversations by the fire. Somewhere along the way—and after a noticeable increase in flirting—it felt like something they should probably explore. By the time Bill dropped Holly back home, he knew—so he asked her out to dinner. From near-misses to “why didn’t we do this sooner” — #HollbillyEverAfter 💍

Holly had an unexpected gallbladder surgery right around Bill’s birthday, and since she couldn’t swim for a while afterward, they decided to make the most of a sunny day at Emerald Isle Beach. The trio—Holly, Bill, and Gus—soaked up the sun, braved a red tide swim (Gus was not impressed), and enjoyed hours of beach fun. Just as Holly spotted a storm cloud rolling in, Bill grabbed his sunglasses case and said, “Well, before we go…”—then popped open the case to reveal a ring. Holly said yes, and they kissed. As the last two on the beach, and with the rain pouring down, they scrambled to the car—Gus grumbling all the way—and Holly couldn’t stop smiling. “Marriage through rain or shine,” she thought, “ours is going to be great!” They capped off the day with a fresh seafood lunch—full bellies, full hearts, and plenty of time to admire the new ring as they held hands and dreamt about their future.