We met the traditional way… on Hinge. (Kidding, kind of.) It actually was a bit of a lucky coincidence. I had only downloaded the app for about a week before getting overwhelmed and deleting it, but Marcus managed to sneak in just in time. After a few weeks of talking, I finally agreed to a date, and we started things off at Tortuga’s glow-in-the-dark mini golf (for the record, we tied). From there, our early date lineup was hard to beat: art walk downtown, a T-Pain concert, and the Gulf State Fair. Then it came time for the big question: would I be his girlfriend? Of course, I had one condition first. I wanted us to talk through all the “heavy hitters.” So, I sent him a long list of deep questions about all the things I valued most. On the day of our talk, Marcus showed up with a printed list of his answers. I was completely touched that he took it so seriously. He showed up thoughtful, intentional, and kind. In that moment, he set the bar high in a way he’s continued to do ever since. I said yes that day, and deep down, I think I already knew I’d be saying yes again someday. The past two years have been filled with the sweetest kind of love — gentle, steady, and full of big belly laughter. We’ve gone on adventures, shared countless inside jokes, and built a little life we adore with our fur babies. Now, we can’t wait to start this next chapter as husband and wife, surrounded by the people we love most.