Mark, newly home from the Marine Corps, and Amanda, freshly out of undergrad, met in a nursing night course. At the course's end, Mark thought he ended up with the highest class score until he realized Amanda scored one point higher. Amanda and Mark both had their own reasons for taking the course. Neither ended up coming to fruition. What did become clear was that Amanda and Mark were supposed to meet each other. And that was only the beginning!

Mark, a registered nurse, had the idea for his proposal plan while working night shift at his hospital. The plan was ambitious but he really wanted to see it through. Beginning in January 2018, Mark took Amanda on one date a month. Each date had a theme which were values Mark wanted to continue to build in their relationship: Love, Kindness, Faith, Trust, Service, Fun, Truth, and Passion. Each of the dates began with Mark asking Amanda out and then picking her up from her house for day-long adventures crafted to display the theme - all she knew was what to wear! During each date, Mark gave Amanda a shape cutout with the date's theme written on it. Little did she know that each piece was a part of a larger picture, a sunset. Their first date ever on September 1st, 2014 had ended at sunset on top of Love Circle hill in Nashville where Mark recited a poem entitled "Just Beyond the Sunset" and these themed dates of 2018 were leading them back to that very spot. On September 1st, 2018, Mark took Amanda on their ninth date that year. He recreated their first date from those four years ago. They went back to the terrible vegetarian restaurant and retraced some special steps throughout the day. Mark once again ended the date on top of the hill at Love Circle, just like four years ago, except this time he gave Amanda the last piece of their sunset (scroll down for a snapshot!) as he referenced the poem from their first date ever: "Four years ago on this day, at this time, at this place, I said I would meet you just beyond the sunset. Today, I want to fulfill that promise. Amanda Marisa McFall, will you marry me?" Amanda was SURPRISED. You wouldn't think she would be with months of lead-up but 1. Amanda is gullible and 2. Mark is like this. These dates were special but not out of the ordinary. She responded, "Yes! Of course!"