We actually met in August of 2017 when I (Emily Joy) first moved to Macon. A mutual friend - shout out Emma P! - introduced us briefly at a patio party. Our friendship truly began when I (Nicholas) began working as a bartender at Ocmulgee Brewpub. Emily Joy has great taste in beer if you didn't know, and she often brought Finch out to the patio. She like patios a good bit. She would read for hours out there and was so friendly to all the people that walked by. He was so kind and has the best smile. I (Emily Joy) would be so happy to be served by him and catch up on life. I knew when he got Deuce we had to get the pups together. One night Emily Joy and her friends came and sat with me (Nicholas) at the brewery for a couple hours. They asked if I would come to the piano bar with them once we closed. Best decision I've ever made. I walked them all home that night, and waited for my uber with Emily Joy in her apartment lobby. The uber arrived, I kissed her goodnight, and God told me this was the woman I was going to marry. I went home and told my roommates that I found the one. As soon as they met her they knew too.

Nicholas is an incredible communicator. Part of the reason why is he LOVES to talk. I (Emily Joy) thought for sure I would have some idea of when the proposal was happening. She had no clue. I (Nicholas) had been planning for weeks and yes folks, it was a huge struggle not to let it slip. On Saturday, March 7, we had the most normal, but most perfect day. After great workouts, we took our pups to play, walked to our garden, and Nicholas made me (Emily Joy) dinner. We danced and laughed all through the kitchen and decided to finish the night off with a beer at Piedmont. I (Nicholas) was sweating buckets the entire day. I tried not to rush her so I didn't give anything away. As we walked towards Piedmont we stopped and looked at the apartment lobby where we first kissed. I asked her if her code still worked on the door. At this point if it didn't work, I had no idea what to do. Luckily, it did. We laughed as we walked into the place where it all began, and I smiled knowing that this was about to be one of the most special memories of our lives. I got down on one knee and asked her to marry me. The rest is a blur for me (Emily Joy). I said YES! He asked me who I wanted to call, and I could barely form sentences let alone function a phone. He walked me over to Piedmont and I couldn't believe there was a ring on my finger. Our favorite bartender, Ian, looked up, saw us, and gave us two of our favorite beers. We didn't even have to ask... it was like he already knew. We walked towards the basement and to my surprise there was a crowd. As we walked down the stairs I started to ask Nicholas "Is that...", but I was interrupted by the most incredible cheers!

We think the love we have for each other is pretty amazing. But we both turn to the amazing love of Jesus as the foundation for our marriage. He is our cornerstone, and we praise Him for the incredible blessing He has provided through each other.