When Ethan heard of the artist at his neighboring high school—instant follow on social media. When Rachel saw this new follower—instant text to shoot her shot. Then came phone calls. Then FaceTime calls. Then bowling dates. Soon they were going everywhere together, including prom. But when they couldn't go to college together, they quickly had 60 miles wedged between them. Back to the phone calls. The FaceTime calls. And now weekends spent cheering on the Dawgs in Athens. Since then, they've seen the world together, started careers in education, and all the while remained an inseparable duo. A high-school love story rooted in a love for art and a leap of faith has unfolded into the greatest adventure. Thanks for helping us celebrate all the adventure to come.

If you know Rachel, you know she loves a good surprise—yet is notorious for spoiling them. So Ethan's plans for a fall 2023 engagement had to start taking shape nearly 6 months prior. After half a year of meticulous planning, scheming, and hint dropping—the stage was set. As the anticipated date grew closer, Rachel remained oblivious. On Sunday, August 13, 2023, Rachel and her two best friends headed to a friend's "baby shower." What Rachel arrived to was an intimate proposal on the river, complete with photos documenting 6 years of memories, handwritten notes, and a question she had been itching to answer. After the "yes", a celebration with family and plenty of barbecue. Afterwards? Rachel and Ethan sitting in the car with McDonald's cokes (as they often did). And Ethan explaining just how he had bamboozled her, and kept her from spoiling a surprise for the first (and likely last) time is his life. Magic.