Emily and Justin’s story began at the most romantic place imaginable—Chick-fil-A. Emily was the new hire, working her very first job, and Justin was the manager who seemed to think nonstop teasing was a valid form of communication. Naturally, Emily assumed he didn’t like her at all. (Spoiler: he totally did.) Eventually, Justin asked her out, and their first date was at Native New Yorker. But the most memorable part came before they even got to the restaurant: Justin had to pull over halfway down Emily’s street just to buckle her into his old Ford Ranger. Thanks to his race car-style bucket seats (which were more complicated than they had any right to be), Emily was stuck—until Justin came to the rescue. That weird little moment? That’s when she knew he was the one. From there, Justin won her over with endless Starbucks and rides to and from work (Emily didn’t have her license yet—don’t judge). They officially started dating on January 6th, 2017, and just three months later, Justin left for the Army. A week before he shipped out, he told her he loved her for the first time and gave her a promise ring—something that carried them through long-distance and life changes. Since then, they’ve built a life together—literally. They’ve been living under the same roof for the past three years, figuring out adulthood one takeout order at a time. In September 2023, they expanded their little family and adopted a chiweenie named Ken, who quickly became their favorite third wheel. Then, on June 27th, 2025—the day before Emily’s 26th birthday—Justin proposed at sunset at Saguaro Lake. There were happy tears, a gorgeous ring (this one sparkled a bit more than the first), and a very enthusiastic yes. Now, after years of laughter, growing up together, and navigating life with a very opinionated dog, they’re finally saying I do. And yes—Justin still picks on Emily. But now, everyone knows: that’s just his way of saying I love you.