We Can't Wait to Celebrate!

If you know Julie and James Swink, then you know they can put on a dang good Battery House Party. Julie's daughter, Janie, and her husband RJ (who were living in Florida at the time) were going to be in town for the weekend, and what better excuse to have everyone together for cocktails & conversation? Katie B. arrived at the get-together with her roommate, Callie Tivnan, and as soon as she got to the top of the stairs (after a big welcome hug) Mrs. Julie looked at Katie B. and said, "I have some friends I want you to meet." She grabbed Katie B.'s hand, marched her to the opposite side of the house, and deposited her right in front of Mrs. Sandy DeLapp and her (oh-so-dashing!) son, Sterling. Katie B. thought nothing of it, assuming the Swinks simply wanted Janie's friends to intermingle with their guests, but little did she know that this introduction was, in fact, premeditated! Mrs. Julie and Mrs. Sandy quickly slipped off, leaving Sterling and Katie B. engrossed in conversation (for an entire bottle of wine) while the rest of the party took place around them...... The rest of the story is better told in person, but rest assured that, without Mrs. Julie and Janie (who gave Katie B.'s number to Sterling), Katie B. and Sterling's love story likely never would have happened!

What better way to cover up a proposal than to tell your girlfriend she's planning your 30th birthday party?! Katie B. finished up at work late on Friday and packed as quickly as she could, thinking she and Sterling were meeting The DeLapps at DeBordieu for an early dinner. While she was desperately trying to put her makeup on in the car, Mr. DeLapp called to tell them that, since they were running late, Mrs. DeLapp had moved the dinner reservation back, and while he was waiting for them he'd taken his cocktail out on the beach and inadvertently lost his favorite pocketknife. Obviously, Katie B. immediately replied, "Well, Mr. DeLapp, you know I don't go anywhere in Georgetown without my metal detector. We have it in the car with us now!" She and Sterling arrived at DeBordieu, prepared to save the day by finding Mr. DeLapp's coveted pocketknife. On the path to the beach the metal detector "pinged" and Sterling bent down to grab the "pocketknife", only instead of a knife, it was a beautiful silver box (the same box Mr. DeLapp had used when proposing to Mrs. DeLapp) with the most beautiful ring inside! When Katie B. said, "YES!", cheers erupted, she and Sterling turned around, and - SURPRISE! - both of their families had been hiding behind the dunes waiting to celebrate! Sterling's "birthday decorations" ended up being used for their engagement celebration with friends and family who joined them from near and far the following evening. Katie B. was so in awe of how wonderful the weekend had been she cried at her desk on Monday morning.