The story begins in Loveland, Colorado on Emmie's 29th birthday, where Emmie met Matthew for the first time during the wedding weekend of mutual friends. Celebrating their nuptials as Maid of Honor and Best Man, they spent the festivities sharing life stories, laughing and enjoying each other's company, as if they had known each other for years. With a funny feeling that this was only the beginning, they parted ways -- Matthew off to Raleigh, North Carolina and Emmie back to New York City -- in hopes of seeing each other again soon. After talking each day since their initial meeting, they decided that life was too short to take things slow. Emmie boarded a plane only two weeks following their first encounter to cheer Matthew on at the Rock 'n Roll Virginia Beach Half Marathon. The relationship only grew from there, with multiple trips between New York and Raleigh, with a quick holiday jaunt to Mexico in between, before Matthew asked Emmie to move in with him. A no brainer question, Emmie packed up and traded in the Big Apple for the slower southern lifestyle with Matthew, filled with an abundance of beef brisket and local brewery tastings. Now settled in Raleigh -- together with their furry four-legged daughter Chloe Sue (who currently runs the household) -- Matthew finally decided to pop the question on the very beach in which they are getting married. Fast forward to today, and this is why you've found yourself on their oh-so-lovely wedding website!