Holden and Katie met when Holden was on a week-long work trip in Charleston. Their first date was at a local Mexican restaurant to which Katie almost didn't show up. She told Holden (who was already there) that not only did she have a flat tire, but she was also trying to save a stray dog (both of which were true — even though Holden is still skeptical to this day). Halfway through the dinner that she was 20 minutes late to, Katie found out Holden was stationed at an Air Force base in Germany, which was a huge surprise. She started thinking the relationship wouldn't progress. However, the two loved spending time with each other and kept the night going at Top Golf. Holden told Katie he "was just okay at golf" — little did she know he had golfed his entire life. (Katie beat Holden at the first game.) They decided to make the most of the last three days Holden had left in the States before he went back to Germany for two-and-a-half years. They went to dinner at the beach, attended a concert with Katie's friends, shed a tear or two while watching the Crazy Rich Asians wedding scene (if you know, you know), and hung out with Katie's dog, Piper. While Holden claims he knew he would marry her on the second date, Katie wasn't sure they could continue talking once Holden left due to the distance. He called her later that day and they spoke for Katie's entire four-hour drive to Atlanta (which ended up being the most expensive phone call of their lives as they didn’t take into account international call fees… whoops). The rest is history; they FaceTimed every single day after. Their affection for each other grew over virtual movie nights, game nights, long talks, and intentional time spent together despite the six-hour time difference. Their first big trip together was Holden's family vacation to Disney World, where the two expressed their love for one another after a dinner date. (Holden would like it to be known that he said "I love you" first.) They knew they wanted to spend the rest of their lives together early on and often discussed their future. Katie visited Holden in Germany in the spring of 2024 and immediately knew she would be okay leaving her beloved home state of South Carolina to live with Holden abroad once they were married. Shortly after, Holden came to Charleston and proposed to Katie at her favorite waterfront park across from her house while on an early morning walk with Piper. It was the most peaceful, perfect proposal she could have imagined! They celebrated in Columbia, SC, where Holden's parents travelled from Ohio to meet Katie's family. They are incredibly excited for this next chapter and are so lucky to have so many close friends and family who love and support them.