WE'RE GETTING MARRIED!

We were first introduced through a mutual friend, but it wasn’t until much later that our story really began. What started as simple conversations soon became something genuine, and before long, our connection grew into something we could have never imagined. The first time we hung out, I met some of his friends, and later he and I went out to eat at Carrabba's. O’Brien swears that when I got out of my car to meet him, he turned to his friends and said, “That’s gonna be my wife.” His friends still stand by that story to this day. From that day forward, we never stopped spending time together. Not long after, we started dating — right before I had to return to Chattanooga for school. At the time, O’Brien was working an overnight job, yet he would still drive down to visit me on his off days or after his shifts. I fell in love with O'Brien's kindness, his love for the Lord, and his dedication to his family. He says he fell in love with how all consuming my love for others is, my heart for family, and, in his words, “just everything about you.” The moment I knew I was going to marry him was after I had shoulder surgery. The way he cared for me and showed up in every small way was something I had never experienced before. O’Brien maintains he always knew he would marry me, stating, “when you know, you just know.” Over the years, we’ve grown together through ups and downs — surviving chaotic roommates, losing loved ones, and celebrating so many milestones. Through it all, we’ve stayed grounded in our love for each other and our faith. In June of 2025, we got our sweet puppy, Quinn Rae, who quickly became the center of our little world. And in December that same year O’Brien proposed. The night started at Barnes & Noble, was followed by a nice Italian dinner, and afterwards we walked past the skating rink lit up for winter. When we stopped by a nearby fountain, he asked if I wanted to make wishes — something I’ve always loved doing. Normally he’s superstitious about wishing out loud, but this time he suggested it. He ran to his car for coins, and when we made our wishes, his turned into the sweetest proposal — one that started with a wish and ended with a promise.