Blayne had just landed at Tom James, fresh out of school and ready to dive into her new career. She was gearing up to shadow Jonathan for the day, feeling a mix of nerves and excitement at the prospect of spending time with a handsome stranger. What she didn’t expect was that Jonathan was about to deliver a masterclass not only in tailoring but in life itself. Jonathan, ever the pro, was teaching her the ropes with his usual charm. Then, out of nowhere, he started sharing his mental health struggles like he was discussing the weather. Blayne, who was still figuring out how to deal with her own emotional tornado, found herself both impressed and slightly envious of his openness. It was like discovering that your new coworker was a secret superhero with the power of vulnerability. Neither of them was on the lookout for a relationship—Jonathan was busy being a workaholic, and Blayne was determined to keep her head down and focus. But Jonathan had this magnetic quality Blayne couldn’t ignore. Their shared experiences and deep chats forged a connection that went way beyond professional. And just like that, what started as a shadowing gig turned into something a lot more interesting. The rest, as they say, is history.

Our first date was at Mellow Mushroom, where we spent hours chatting about everything and nothing. Jonathan was vegan at the time, and I’d never even met a vegan before, let alone gone out with one. So, we went with his favorite—BBQ tempeh—while I added my personal twist of jalapenos and pineapple. The pizza ended up looking like a wild experiment in flavor fusion, but it tasted like a match made in culinary heaven. Just like our story, it was a perfect blend of sweet, spicy, and unexpectedly amazing. * A special thanks to the Harris’ and McMillan’s for being there when Jonathan had pepperoni pizza for the first time and broke his then pescatarian diet. I personally thank you!! And yes, his stomach felt fine and he hasn’t turned back!

The proposal was straight out of a rom-com with a dash of family shenanigans. It was Memorial Day weekend, and the family was all set to spend time at Blayne’s grandparents' house. The day prior, they went to get pedicures. Blayne noticed Jonathan was a bit off. One clue was that before she could ask his opinion on her choice of manicure color, he insisted she go with a neutral shade. She was starting to get suspicious. Fast forward to Memorial Day. Jonathan, usually the stickler for timing, was cool as a cucumber. Instead of stressing about being late, he was unusually calm and even asked what she was wearing so he could match his outfit. Blayne, being her thorough self, decided to go all out. She put on self-tanner, a full face of makeup, and curled her hair—mind you, this was for a day lounging by the pool! She wanted to be ready, just in case! When they arrived at her grandparents’ house, the scene was already set. The entire family was out in the front driveway, which was odd because they never did that. And if that wasn’t enough, everyone was surprisingly keen on taking group photos. Even the guys, who usually avoided the camera, were game for it. Just when Blayne thought things couldn’t get more peculiar, Honey, their dog, bounded around the yard with a bandana that read "Will you marry my dad?". That’s when it all clicked. Jonathan greeted her in the yard, dropped to one knee, and popped the question. The moment was perfect, and Blayne was overjoyed that her family could be there to share it. It was a full-circle moment, especially since they’re now getting married at the same special place where it all began.