Hunter and I went to the same high school, but we never spoke to each other until he was in college. The first day we talked was in June 2013 at the most popular hang out spot in town: The Harvey's parking lot. He was with a mutual friend of ours, so I stopped by to say hello. As I was leaving, I gave our friend a hug and Hunter asked, "Do I get a hug too?" And I gave him one. I added him on Snapchat, but he was the first one to send me something. It was a typical snap that was obviously sent to everyone on his friend list, but it turned into our first real conversation... about fried cornbread. Those snapchats turned into text messages after he finally gave me his number. It wasn't but a few months later he asked me to be his girlfriend. I was at play practice, and we were getting ready to rehearse. My friend was Dorothy, and I was Auntie Em. The curtain opened, and she began with her first lines. "Auntie Em, Auntie Em," and continued with "Will you be Hunter's girlfriend?" as he walked from behind the stage with flowers in his hands. I knew right then he was something special. Roughly two years into dating, Hunter decided to transfer to UGA. We knew it would affect our relationship in many ways, but we were willing to accept the challenge. I couldn't decide if I was sad because I would never see him,or if I was excited because I knew I'd be able to visit The Classic City any time I wanted. We cheered on the Dawgs together, planned holidays and birthday celebrations from afar, made numerous trips to see each other, and stood together when times got hard. People constantly told us, if you can survive college and long distance together, you can survive anything.

Hunter always told me he wanted to wait until he graduated to consider getting engaged and married. I knew it was the best idea, but of course I was inpatient. For a couple of years now, people began to ask me when we were getting engaged, why I didn’t have a ring yet, and were we even thinking about getting married one day. I could not attend weddings without getting asked, “Are you next?” Of course Hunter and I had talked about marriage, but it just wasn’t time yet. It was a random Thursday, and Hunter was going back to Athens the same day. He convinced me to let one of his adult friends/ former colleagues take pictures of me that morning because “she wanted to start doing more photography and needed pictures to show her work.” I believed it because I knew she had been taking pictures, but I wondered why Hunter would not go with me. He said he would take my brother fishing that morning while I was gone. Cleve had all his fishing gear packed up, so it seemed believeable. They left to go fishing, and I left to go to Blakely to take pictures. After we took some in town by a pretty brick wall, she said we would go to Coheelee Creek, and her daughter was going to meet us there to help. I was standing barefoot among the flowing water, staring off into the distance as she snapped pictures of me. Then, I saw a shadow behind me and heard a whisper in my ear. “Baby doll, do you love me?” I turned around to meet Hunter eye to eye as he got down on one knee and opened the box to the most beautiful ring I have ever seen. “Will you spend the rest of your life with me?” It was the day we both had been waiting for, and it was perfect.

Hunter and I can't wait to say "I Do" and share this special day with all of our family and friends!