We're getting married!

Christine and Neal met through a dating app during the midst of Covid shutdowns. The two immediately hit it off on their first date, which was meeting up for coffee while downtown Wilmington restaurants had open street seating. They proceeded to walk along the Cape Fear Riverwalk and were so enthralled with the conversation, they spent 3 hours walking the loop a couple of times, with Neal coming home with a sunburn! After spending time with each other, they both met the other's friends and family, which can be daunting, but everyone was welcoming and it only solidified their relationship. Fast forward to moving in with each other, the not so subtle hints of marriage eventually popped up! Christine and Neal used a local jeweler to design the ring, using an Ingram family heirloom diamond. So it wasn't a question "if", but "when" the big question would happen. Neal surprised Christine while on a chilly morning walk with their dog Jethro, on November 19th, 2023. They were able to celebrate while on a vacation to Savannah the following weekend.