We're getting married!

Austin and I met back in 2017 when we were both starting nursing school. Back then, his last name also started with an A, so all of our classes and clinical rotations were grouped together. We sometimes stood next to each other in line for ceremonies, and sat together at lunch every once and a while in a group of other students. While we both knew who the other was, we didn't necessarily know one another. Skipping forward to March 2018, we were sitting at lunch during our hospital clinical rotation when I mentioned I needed a roommate for the following, last semester of nursing school. Our friend, Brandi, was also there and - fate behold - we all three needed a roommate! The three of us went on to rent an apartment for 5 months and little did I know those 2 people would become my best friends! It didn't take long living together for Austin and I to realize that we liked each other a little more than roommates... although it took me a few months to admit that to my family! We eventually went on our first official date that summer to Tybee Island and finished it up at B&Ds with some burgers, beer, and trivia. We quickly became intertwined into each others lives and are here, three and a half years after we met, planning our own life together!

A family vacation turned out to be a very memorable one back in October 2020! The Arnold family had been planning a beach vacation down to Tybee Island for months back in the fall of 2020. Quarantine was starting to loosen and we were all antsy to see each other! Even Ashley (aka my awesome photographer sister) and her family were flying into town for it! We couldn't wait to spend the entire weekend on the beach. A few weeks before the trip Austin and I celebrated our second anniversary dating. As a present, Austin had picked out (mostly by himself, but with a little help from his sister Morgan!) and given me this gorgeous red gown with a note that said that while we were in Savannah with my family, he had asked Ashley to take photos of us for our anniversary. He had even bought himself a new outfit! Tybee Island was where we had our first date, so we were excited for beautiful, nostalgic photos. We went down to the beach one night during our trip with Ashley and her camera (and Renee, the awesome camera bag assistant). The last scene on the beach we wanted to pose at was this beautiful piece of driftwood, right at sunset. As we were wrapping up, Ashley asked if there was any more poses we would like to try, to which Austin grabbed my hand and said "there's one more I'd like to try." He dropped to one knee and asked me to marry him, creating the most beautiful, memorable moment of my life! Of course, I said YES!!