Our story began the summer of 2010 and it has been an unforgettable ride these past nine years. Flashback to when he drove the mini-van and my car had hand-crank windows and blown speakers. When he had just graduated a KIHS Buccaneer, and I was the "Most Spirited Lion" of the QACHS Class of 2011. Flash forward a bit to college, when we'd spend weekends in Salisbury at Specific Gravity and in New Zoo, or trekking up and down Knox Road in College Park between Knox Towers, Bentley's, Slices and back. Today, we have long debates over what size shed we should get and the most practical way to organize kitchen cabinets. We watch Jeopardy every night we are home together and spend our weekends trying to grow our front lawn and keep plants alive. We live for day-trips to the beach and spontaneous weekend get-a-ways. And our adventure together is only beginning... We have grown together, learned so much from each other and we couldn't imagine spending life anywhere else with anyone else. We are so fortunate and blessed to live this life with each other and all of our amazing family and friends. Cheers! xo

Our families have both vacationed in the Outer Banks for most of our lives. This year, Ben went down a few days earlier with my parents. Earlier that year, Ben had extended the family vacation invitation to his parents. Not thinking anything of it, a co-worker had asked if he did that in preparation to propose. I had never thought of it and truly didn't start to panic, only because Ben had once told me he would talk to Shelby before doing anything of the sort. Since Shelby had no idea, I figured I was in the clear. Just to be sure, I had asked my Mom a few weeks prior if we should get our nails done for vacation. Since her response was "Forget it, we are going to the beach, who cares", I was certain this vacation would just be a week of card games, beers, and naps. When I arrived at the beach a few days later, we had our normal beach day and all was great! We decided to have our family picture taken that evening since it was the first time our whole family had been together in a long time. Mom gave me a matching shirt to wear for the Christmas card, a beer, and said "be ready in 30, the Drapers are on their way to take our picture and for happy hour." Meanwhile, I am throwing a fit about wearing matching shirts in this picture and wondering the whole time why Ben hadn't come downstairs during my tantrum to 1. support me acting like a child or 2. bring down some food or beer so I'd stop acting like a fool. Thirty minutes later, the Drapers were taking our pictures on the beach. Ben and I had our picture taken separately, and three awkward pictures later, he was down on one knee. I was shocked that Ben decided to ask me to marry him in front of my whole family, but also so blessed that some of the most important people in my life could be there with us to share our favorite memory thus far. Milepost 18, South Nags Head is where our forever beings. Photos by Kimberly Florence Photography