That summer before 5th and 7th grade, during the first week of July, Briana and Timothy’s paths crossed for the first time. At just 10 and 12 years old, they met by chance while Briana and her siblings were visiting relatives in New York with their aunt. Neither of them knew it then, but that simple introduction—amid a summer of family, friends, laughter, and exploration—would mark the quiet beginning of a story that, years later, would blossom into a lifetime of love. Timothy grew up just across the street from Kristy, Briana’s second cousin by marriage. Over the years, Kristy and Timothy’s mom, Deborah, became incredibly close — some would even say like sisters. Kristy’s brother, David, and his wife, Jessica, hosted an annual Fourth of July cookout, a tradition that brought together family and friends every summer. Timothy and his family were always there — they were more than neighbors; they were part of the extended circle. David and Jessica made sure the kids were never bored at these gatherings. Whether it was an inflatable obstacle course, volleyball, relay races, or a giant water slide, there was always something exciting planned. The year Briana and Timothy met, the big attraction was an inflatable “Wipeout”-style game. It had pedestals arranged in a circle and a giant wrecking-ball-style inflatable swinging from the middle. When it was Timothy’s turn, he confidently grabbed the wrecking ball, pulled it back with all his strength, and let it fly—smashing it full-force right into Briana’s face. And from that moment on, she was head over heels for him. (Or at least, as much “in love” as a 10-year-old could be.)

For about a week, someone Briana no longer associates with had been asking her nonstop to go to the Arboretum in Asheville, NC. One day, while Timothy was on break at work, he asked Bri if she’d heard from that person lately. She mentioned that the person had called while she was asleep, but she didn’t answer because she was trying to rest. Timothy suggested she should probably talk to her—it might have something to do with the weekend. A couple of weeks prior, Bri had actually told that same person she’d eventually need to message Timothy and help him plan a proposal so he wouldn’t have to stress about it when the time comes. During that week, Timothy kept hiding his phone to avoid raising suspicion. He had been secretly messaging a group chat of groomsmen from a previous wedding. One day, he accidentally opened a message in front of Bri, and one of the guys had asked, “paint or stain?” Bri asked what he was talking about since it was so random. Timothy claimed it was for a jewelry box he got for someone else. Bri thought it was odd—jewelry boxes usually come already painted or stained—but he played it off well. What she didn’t know was that he was actually having a custom wooden ring box made just for her, complete with moss inside to cradle the rings. The morning of the proposal, they were supposed to meet up with that couple to go to the Arboretum. Briana slept in an extra thirty minutes and didn’t feel like getting out of bed, but Timothy was oddly insistent—unusual, since Bri is normally the one hurrying him along. They spent nearly an hour walking through the Arboretum before Timothy finally proposed. He chose a beautiful spot next to a large fountain surrounded by trees and benches. After she said yes, they continued walking and soaking in the moment. They finished the evening at Briana’s favorite Italian restaurant in South Asheville—Vinnie’s.