Stef & I met in Nashville during the summer of 2021, one of those weekends that was supposed to be nothing more than a good time with friends. Stef was visiting from Atlanta, and after some not-so-subtle encouragement from our mutual friends, I finally worked up the courage to introduce myself on the rooftop of Underground. Little did I know, that’d be the best decision I’ve ever made. What started as a quick introduction turned into hours of talking, dancing, laughing, and realizing we didn’t really want the night to end. Eventually, it did, and I remember thinking, “Well… there’s a four-hour drive between us, so who knows what’ll happen next.” As it turns out, we got a second shot the very next morning. Stef walked into Jonathon’s for brunch, saw me, and sat down right beside me (smooth move). This time, I made sure to ask her for her number before she left. It didn’t take long for me to text her, asking if she made it home safely & that I felt the past weekend was something different. A few weeks of phone calls & FaceTime’s later, Stef invited me to Atlanta. I packed a bag, made the drive, with a couple hours of phone calls to calm the nerves, and we picked up right where we left off. We spent the weekend walking the Beltline, eating tacos, drinking wine, and actually getting to know each other. One weekend turned into another, and after a few months, I asked her to be my girlfriend before heading to a Titans game. We made long distance work for a year, but it didn’t take much to realize we wanted more time together & were tired of the constant road trips. So I packed up & moved to Atlanta. Life got a lot more fun without the four-hour drives, and we filled it with new routines, new adventures, and a shared love for traveling together. Since then, we’ve had a chance to explore Italy, Netherlands, Vietnam, Qatar, Jamaica, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Austria, and Spain, making memories each step of the way. Four years later, everything came full circle right outside our condo in Inman Park. While Stef was at a brunch with her friends, I set up a surprise in the park I knew she’d walk through on her way home. This is the park we have our morning coffees, our evening chats, and even where we plan our weeks. She was completely caught off guard and thankfully immediately said yes. From there, the surprises kept coming, ending with an engagement party surrounded by our closest friends & family. Turns out, all it took was one rooftop, a little courage, and a “yes” to a drink that turned into something much bigger.