Shelby and Collin’s story didn’t start with love at first sight—more like a series of near misses. The two initially crossed paths in 2011 when Collin was visiting friends at the University of South Carolina and was introduced to Shelby through mutual connections. This encounter, while brief, established a connection based on kindness and a hint of attraction that would eventually grow into a beautiful relationship. From there, encounters were sporadic—a quick hello at parties, a near-meetup in Tuscany while traveling separately, and an attempt by Shelby to “rescue” Collin from a perceived karaoke fail. Despite Shelby’s (alleged) efforts to get his attention, it wasn’t until February 2020 at their friends Molly and Will’s wedding that things finally clicked. Shortly after, Collin asked Shelby to grab dinner at Bar Virgile in Durham on his way from Charlotte to Wilmington. Being a new North Carolinian, she pulled up a map and noted that Durham was completely out of the way when traveling from Charlotte to Wilmington. This was a promising sign that Collin, after knowing Shelby for 9 years, finally realized the two of them had a future beyond friendship. Though Shelby was in Durham and Collin in Charlotte, their first date was an undeniable success. But just as their relationship began to take shape, the world shut down. Relying on remote work, social distancing, and plenty of hand sanitizer, they managed to stay within each other’s pandemic bubbles. During those early days, Collin won Shelby over with his cooking skills and love of food. He quickly adapted to her “selectitarian” diet, and Shelby happily became the taste-tester for his latest creations. Despite the distance, they made it work—traveling back and forth to see each other and exploring their cities as much as possible. When Collin took an extended road trip out west for several months in 2021, Shelby was initially unsure how the time apart would play out. But visiting him in Austin, Denver, and Salt Lake City quickly turned into a highlight of their young relationship, giving them both a taste for new adventures together. Soon after that trip, they naturally concluded it was time to live in the same city. They chose Wilmington for its proximity to the coast and family, both sensing it was the perfect place to put down roots. Over the past three years, that decision has proven to be the right one. Now, with their favorite people gathered to celebrate, they couldn’t be more excited for what’s ahead—and can’t wait to share this next chapter with all of you.