we're getting hitched

According to Justin, our story began in August 2016, when he first saw me on move-in day at Samford University. If he told it, he’d say he tried to talk to me in the Caf, but I ignored him in favor of chatting with the rest of his table—which, for the record, isn’t true! In reality, our story really began in the summer of 2019, when he replied to my Snapchat story while I was touring out west with Missoula Children’s Theatre and he was training for Samford’s football season. From that moment, we just clicked—we’ve been in sync ever since. Our first date was on August 17, 2019, at Yo Mama’s. I ordered shrimp and grits; he had chicken and waffles—the same orders we still get today. What was supposed to be a simple lunch turned into an entire day of talking and laughing. Everything just felt right. Even after classes started, no matter how packed our schedules were with classes, practice, work, or rehearsals, we always found time for each other—we were inseparable. There’s an ongoing debate about when we officially became a couple—November 22 or 23, 2019. For the record, it’s the 23rd, and I stand by that! Not too long after, we faced our first real challenge: the COVID-19 pandemic. But we already knew we were each other’s person. We lived together and got through the strangest year of our lives—I wouldn’t have wanted to do it with anyone else. Justin and I both love to travel, so we make it a point to explore new cities whenever we can. But our last big trip was next-level. Justin knows I have an obsession with cruises (thanks, Mom). He’s terrible at keeping secrets and I’m terrible at surprises… or so I thought. On January 15, 2025, he completely caught me off guard with the most epic proposal. (You have to see the video!) Three apartments, two businesses, countless days apart, and so many late nights later, we finally made it to ‘I do!’