We first met while working at Perini Ranch Steakhouse, a place known for absolutely delicious steak and potatoes. From the beginning, we hit it off and quickly became best friends, having a great time with each other and all our Perini's friends. We had so many laughs, whether it was during the busy dinner rush or the quieter, peaceful times after closing. No matter how the shift was going it was always okay because we were going through it together. Zach, being the gentleman he is, would always lend a hand with the heavy lifting, and let me have what I liked to call my "pretty girl privilege." As time went on, our friendship grew, and it became clear that what we shared was something special. As I was getting ready to move to Dallas for law school, we realized that maybe our friendship was something more. Once I moved, we made the most of every moment together, even long distance. Eventually, Zach couldn’t stand being away from me, so he moved to Dallas to be with me, and we started our life together. Together, we embarked on a new chapter, filled with love and adventure. And so, the rest is history. ;)

Our engagement story began in St. Maarten while we were on family vacation. We had wandered into a jewelry store, just browsing for fun, when I jokingly tried on a ring. The diamond was perfect—absolutely stunning—but the setting wasn’t quite right. It had a silver band with a hidden halo, and I casually told Zach, "When you’re ready, this stone is perfect, but I want gold and no halo." The very next day, without me knowing, Zach snuck into my parents’ room at the resort, asked my dad for his blessing, and then sprinted down to the jewelry store before they closed. He told me he was going to grab a coffee while I was getting ready for family pictures, and I didn’t think twice about it. But when 20 minutes passed and he still wasn’t back, I started cursing him under my breath, worried we’d miss the sunset for our pictures. When he finally showed up, I had no idea that he had just pulled off the first step of the biggest surprise of my life. During our family photos, Zach spent the entire time discreetly hiding the ring box—luckily for him, I am completely clueless. For the rest of our trip, my dad kept the ring hidden in his backpack, making sure it made its way safely back to Dallas. Once home, Zach took the ring to a jeweler near our house and had them make all the modifications I had mentioned—switching the band to gold and removing the halo—turning it into exactly what I had envisioned. Then came July 11, 2024. That morning, Zach picked up the finished ring, and the day was already special for us. We were celebrating, and the next day, we were moving into our first apartment together. We had planned a day just for us—to take pictures, enjoy each other’s company, and have a nice dinner. At the Dallas Arboretum, we walked around, talking and laughing, and taking pictures. And then, when Zach found the perfect spot, he asked me to turn around. When I turned back, I saw him down on one knee. In that moment, neither of us really had words—just pure emotion and happiness. Zach finally found the words he needed, and of course, I said yes. It's very full-circle that the first diamond I ever tried on is now the one I get to wear every day. And while my ring was already everything I could have wanted, today, it looks just a little different. We later added two emeralds on either side of the diamond—our shared birthstone, since we were born just 14 hours apart. This little customization made it even more special, a perfect way to represent the two of us and the life we’re building together. It was the most perfect day, in the most perfect way, with the most perfect person. 💍✨