We're getting married!

Charles and I matched on Hinge and had our first date on December 4th, 2021. It was the SEC championship game Georgia vs Alabama. Charles asked if I would like to come to his house for a home cooked meal and to watch the game. I'm a Georgia fan and he claims he is a Georgia fan but also is a Clemson Tiger. He cooked all my favorite things, especially the steak. The steak deserves its own paragraph. I am a steak girl and a foodie. Cooking is a passion of mine. To be able to find a man that can grill an amazing steak is very hard to find. From that first bite of a perfectly cooked medium ribeye steak I knew in that moment I had found THE ONE. Our relationship continued to grow from that moment. We had many struggles in the beginning due to our past, but it only made us grow as individuals and as a couple. In June we randomly went to look at engagement rings and I had found the ring of my dreams. I had to wait til the moment he would ask because I told him I wanted it to be a surprise. We do not keep secrets from each other, so it was very hard for him to contain the details. One night we were driving home from Columbia after visiting our friends, and Charles nonchalantly states to me that he told his friend Paul that he found THE ONE he was going to marry. That moment meant so much to me, since I had always wanted someone tell me that I was the one, just like Carrie Bradshaw. Little did I know what was coming on the end of a perfect day on August 4, 2023. We had planned a family trip to Panama City Beach, FL to celebrate my birthday. The day began with Charles and Pops taking me to swim with the dolphins. Swimming with dolphins has been number 1 on my bucket list for years. If you know me then you know I have an obsession with them. After all the excitement of the day we had planned to go to dinner with everyone including Charles' sister Sophia and her husband Garrett. I was talking with Sophia in the room as we were getting ready for dinner and mentioned to her that I had a feeling Charles may propose the following night. He had mentioned going to a fancy dinner and taking pictures on the beach, which is unlike him to want to take pictures. I continued to get ready and in the meantime Sophia made her way to Charles and mentioned to him of my suspicions. Charles quickly had to make a decision. We chose a random restaurant on the beach and Sophia requested to take some pictures. The sky was absolutely beautiful. After taking several pictures I turned around looking for Charles to find him down on one knee. I was shocked and speechless. I giggled so hard due to being so shocked and surprised. He asked if I would be his best friend forever. I of course said yes! The crowd from the beach and the restaurant went wild and cheered us on. It was unbelievable and perfect. It's been two years of adventures, laughs, tears, sacrifices, communication, growth, and so much love. Now we wait to be able to say "I do" and call each other husband and wife.