Tiasha and Taylor met on their first day of freshman year in High School English class, where they became instant friends bonding over music, movies, and dreams of travel and “getting out of Chesapeake, as soon as possible.” Given the alphabetical order of their last names, they continued to sit right in-front/behind each other for the remainder of their high school matriculation where their friendship blossomed. They attended high school dances and games together and forged a bond that would last for many years to come. While Taylor and Tiasha went to different colleges and graduate schools, they always seemed to find their way back to each other, fulfilling those dreams of travelling and getting out of their hometown. They lived in Richmond, VA and Ashland, VA for their college years where their close friend group grew and they met several of their best mates for life. Taylor’s pursuit of his Masters took him to Nashville, TN where Tiasha was able to join him for her early career years. They spent several fun and impactful years in Nashville where they hiked in the beautiful mountains of Tennessee, attended many music festivals and concerts, made even more lifelong friends. They were exploring and experiencing the unfamiliar and it was awesome! While they had a glorious time in Nashville, there was always one element missing that made it hard to plant permanent roots there - they were missing family. Both Tiasha and Taylor’s families live in Chesapeake, VA - the town they were so excited to part with when they were in High School. Just like the siren song that pulls fishermen to the shore, Taylor and Tiasha’s longing for their loved ones back in VA pulled them back to the very town they left so many years before. They bought a home together in the summer of 2018 - just 10 minutes from their family homes, and just one minute from the place it all started... Their old high school.

Taylor planned an elaborate proposal for Tiasha during their trip to Europe with friends Nate, Sarah, Zack, and Shesh. But alas, as so many great plans go, the grand proposal in Belgium in the Grand Plaz did not come to fruition due to the many shirtless men working construction and the multitude of tourists and pickpocketters that surrounded them. Instead, on the last day of what was a very grand European adventure, Taylor happened across the most perfect moment at sunset in the English Gartens in Munich, Germany to surprise Tiasha with a beautiful ring and ask for her hand in marriage. This unplanned, uncoordinated moment was so representative of their relationship up to that day - that the best things are worth the wait, loosely planned, and are best experienced in the company of loved ones.