We're so excited to celebrate with you!

Phillip and I met freshman year of high school in 2010. Throughout high school, we became friends while having classes together and hanging out in the same friend group. Senior year, I was the editor of our school yearbook and Phillip was quickly becoming a GoPro/drone expert. He used these skills to become an “honorary yearbook member” and began spending LOTS of time in the yearbook room helping me with an array of projects. Feelings started to develop and he asked me to be his date to Homecoming by having my 1st grade students surprise me with “the question”!! I remember thinking how thoughtful that was, and Phillip’s thoughtfulness and intentionality have proved a constant thread throughout our friendship and relationship. We started dating soon after and continued into our early college years. It’s no secret that long distance relationships can be challenging, especially juggling college life and future career paths. After three years apart and the necessary time to grow as individuals, God brought us back into each other’s lives. According to Phillip, once we saw each other again, he knew that was it. We began building a new friendship with a clean slate, and I remember thinking, “This feels like something big.” We went on our “first date” on February 19, 2019 and haven’t looked back since! Now, after three years together, we both agree without a doubt that this was God’s plan for us and we are so thankful for every season of our story.

Hilton Head Island, SC has always been a special place for the Settlemyer family. They have vacationed there for decades and one of their favorite spots on the island is Harbor Town because of its stunning views, especially from the 18th Green. Phillip remembers watching fireworks from the golf course every 4th of July! Fast forward to 2019, when my family started vacationing in Hilton Head as well. Over the next three years it quickly became a special place for our families and us. During a conversation in early 2021, I expressed my desire to get engaged somewhere meaningful to both Phillip and me. Phillip immediately knew Hilton Head was that place. With months of secret planning, Phillip set a date that fell in between both families’ summer vacations to Hilton Head. On Saturday, June 19th, Phillip’s family “left” to go home while my family was arriving later that day from Marietta. Having truly believed the Settlemyers had left, I had no expectations of a proposal. That day on the beach, Phillip nonchalantly led me to plan our evening: a last minute dinner in Harbor Town for chicken fingers and ice cream. Phillip even went so far as to “call” the restaurant and snag a “last minute reservation due to a cancellation”. That evening we showed up a few minutes early for our “reservations” to walk around Harbor Town. Upon walking up to the 18th Green and admiring the views, I was caught by TOTAL surprise when Phillip began proposing and got down on one knee! I said “YES!!!” through laughter and tears. Afterward, Phillip surprised me with dinner at my favorite restaurant (not chicken fingers...) where BOTH of our families were waiting to celebrate! Everything about that day, down to the last detail, was thoughtfully and perfectly planned. Looking back, it was truly the BEST day!! Phillip would also like to add that he successfully pulled off the BEST surprise and can’t wait to spend the rest of our lives together!