Our story begins like many other tales as old as time with all of the necessary makings for a good story... a single guy, a single gal, two smart phones, a dating app, and two right swipes. After chatting for a few days on the app, a first date was set for Friday, November 29, 2019. We met for dinner and had a great time. Neither one of us wanted the date to end, so dinner led to going to a comedy show, and the comedy show led to grabbing drinks at a nearby bar. Needless to say, we both wanted to keep seeing each other. For the first few months we did all of the fun couply things - dinners, breweries, comedy shows, and actually getting to interact with others in person. Then Covid hit. A global pandemic, a statewide shelter in place order, and the temporary closing of virtually every restaurant, bar, and indoor establishment will either make or break a relationship, especially one as fresh as ours was. Fortunately, it allowed us the one-on-one time to grow and strengthen our relationship. We spent the early part of 2020 playing tennis, growing a vegetable garden, hiking around GA, cooking new recipes, and of course giving Ella (dog) lots of love and attention. As we adjusted to our new normal, we went on vacations, attended outdoor comedy shows, and eventually moved in together. Then 2021 came around and it was a big year for us - we got engaged, adopted a dog (Stanley), and purchased a house. We are counting down the days until our wedding in May and can't wait to see y'all then!

Cody will be telling this one: In December 2020, I told Jessie I would be proposing before her 30th birthday in May. I warned her to be ready between now and then because I could pull out the ring and drop down on one knee at any moment (especially if we were to take a trip somewhere). After much coordinating, the plan was set - the location: Lookout Mountain, the date: March 13th and photographer: reserved. When I pitched to Jessie the idea of going to Chattanooga for the weekend, I was sure she would sense what might be happening, but she remained steadfast in her belief that nothing out of the ordinary would be taking place that weekend. In order to make sure she took the event seriously, I could not have made it more clear that the proposal was going to happen, however she took my boldness as a bluff. She was so convinced that this was my attempt at a misdirect that when we drove into to the Lookout Mountain parking lot, she jokingly asked if the photographer had arrived to which I replied "they've been here for about an hour getting into position, but let me text them to make sure they are ready." As we made our way through the Lookout Mountain trail and toward the proposal spot on the rope bridge, I counted out loud the steps to make sure I proposed at exactly the right spot, but even this did not cause any suspicion. When I got down on one knee and asked her to marry me, I was so nervous that I barely got the words out, but thankfully she heard me and said "yes." Suffice it to say, Jessie was quite surprised. After that we enjoyed the rest of the day in Chattanooga as a newly engaged couple.