We’re getting married!

We had seen each other a few times in passing, those quick little moments where you lock eyes with someone and feel a spark… but nothing ever came of it… until the Jelly Roll concert. That night in the middle of music and chaos, we finally had an excuse to introduce ourselves. The second we started talking, it just clicked. It felt easy, electric and honestly like magic. Before the night was over, Justin asked me out on a date and I ran into the office to tell my coworkers like a teenager with a crush.. I couldn’t stop smiling. The next morning, he showed up at my job with coffee. We snuck away and sat on the river walk for hours talking about who we were and what we wanted in life. We ended up walking down to get lunch and I ended up playing hooky. That spontaneous coffee turned into the start of something special. Since that day we have been completely inseparable. From a shared moment at a concert to us building a life together.. it’s been love since the moment we met. Now..it’s 2025 and we are so excited that our family’s are becoming one.

The cottage. The place that brings back so many blissful memories...Where the salt air kissed our skin and the water was always just a few barefoot steps away. It’s more than a house; it’s where life felt lighter, freer, and a little more magical. The scent of the house still lives in my memory.. It's part ocean, part something I can’t quite explain but know by heart. It’s where slumber parties and laughter echoed through open windows as we fell asleep. As a family, we went on endless adventures..Boating out to tiny hidden islands, jumping off the dock holding hands, paddling across glassy water at sunset, and sitting down for family dinners with a view that made everything taste better. It was the kind of life I’d only ever seen in movies, the kind I used to dream of. And somehow, there we were, living it. Justin only lived in the cottage for about seven months when we met and before we moved in together...But they were the first seven months of us. The first home cooked meal we ever shared together happened in that tiny kitchen (along with the first burnt one). It’s where I met Madelyn and Miles for the first time. It’s where so many firsts unfolded...quiet ones, silly ones, unforgettable ones. Those days were slow and sweet, full of discovery and simple joy. They were perfect. This house holds the story of the beginning and of love, of family, of coastal magic. It’s a memory I’ll play forever in my mind, like a favorite movie I never want to end.

It was March 2024 when Justin planned a surprise trip that would mean more to me than he probably even realized. He told me what to pack, picked me up, and whisked me away to the mountains. It was exactly what I had always dreamed of..a man who took charge, who planned without hesitation, and who made me feel completely cared for. We ended up in Bryson City, tucked away in the sweetest little one bedroom cottage. It had a tiny kitchen, a hot tub, and the kind of view you only see in postcards. No neighbors. No city noise. Just us and the sound of nature. The stillness was peaceful, like time had stopped just for us. It truly felt like a movie playing out in real time. One of the highlights was hiking to waterfalls.. Something I had dreamed of doing since the moment I moved to North Carolina. I always imagined that kind of adventure, but doing it hand in hand with Justin made it even more meaningful. We wandered through the woods, followed the sound of rushing water, and stood in awe at the base of those falls, completely present in the moment. It was everything I hoped for breathtaking, peaceful, and full of laughter. We may or maynot have left evidence of our love carved into a tree along that creek as well. J + T <3 We spent our days soaking it in, and one night, Justin planned a fancy date at the Biltmore Estate. It was unlike anything I’d ever experienced from trying to pronounce wine names we’d never heard of, to sitting beside people who looked like they stepped out of a luxury magazine. And of course, laughing through the chaos of not being able to find the right entrance or get through the gate, the way our feet hurt so bad we could hardly walk back to the car. It was elegant, it was ridiculous, and it was so us. That whole trip is burned into my heart. Not just for the beautiful views or the unforgettable dinner but because it captured everything that made me fall in love with Justin. The way he surprises me. The way he shows up, consistently and effortlessly. The way being with him feels like home no matter where we are. We just click. It’s like we were meant for each other all along we just had to take our own bumpy roads before finding the straight and narrow one that led us together. Life with Justin is the life I prayed for. And that mountain getaway? It was just the beginning of a love that continues to feel like the sweetest adventure.

We were so eager to move in together.. To finally start a life side by side, waking up together, winding down together, and creating a rhythm that felt like us. When we found a house in a brand-new subdivision, we knew it wasn’t our forever home, but it felt like the perfect place to begin. It had just what we needed.. a community pool, a little gym, a small backyard just big enough to hide our three weenie dogs, and a nearby park for the kids to run and play. It wasn’t our dream house, but it was our start. It was the place where we figured out our flow as a family and where the kids had their own rooms, where we decorated new spaces together, and where the excitement of something new filled every corner. That house gave us so many beautiful firsts. Our first family dinner with guests around the table, outdoor movies with fireworks lighting up the sky behind us, neighborhood walks at dusk that turned into deep conversations and hand holding. It saw our first Christmas together as a family, filled with joy, chaos, and love. It witnessed late-night card games, endless laughter, and unforgettable memories... specifically like the infamous “twerk pong” game that had us all in tears of joy for what felt like hours. We built something special in that house, even if it was just for six months. It was a short chapter, but one filled with warmth, growth, and the beautiful blending of our lives. And then, we moved again.. into the house we bought, the one that feels like the real beginning of our long-term life together. But we’ll always remember that first little homes with so much love, because it’s where “us” truly began.

Justin had been sneakily planning the proposal since March 2025, secretly teaming up with my sister Stephanie to make it perfect. He knew he wanted to do it while my family was visiting, so the timing had to be just right. On the morning of July 16th, we set out for a boat day with the whole family. A true family favorite activity. Shortly after boarding the boat, Justin casually mentioned he wanted to show everyone “Our Island.” This little slice of heaven has always been special to us. It sits higher than the other islands, offering the most stunning views of the Intracoastal Waterway. There’s something magical about..peaceful, open, and full of memories. Once we reached the top of the island, we all started looking around and taking in the scenery. Stephanie chimed in and said, “Let’s get some photos!” So naturally, Justin and I posed for a photo. As I turned, Justin gently wrapped his arms around my shoulders and softly said, “Tiffany…” In that exact moment, I knew. The moment I had been waiting for was finally happening. Time slowed. He spoke so many beautiful, heartfelt words that made my heart melt. Then, he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. It was everything I ever hoped for. Real, meaningful, and surrounded by love. Right after I said yes, we were joined in the sweetest hug with Madelyn and Miles, which made the moment even more special. The rest of the day was filled with laughter, beach volleyball, shell hunting, and simply soaking in the magic of the Wilmington waterways. It was a perfect day. This is one we’ll cherish forever.