grab your dancing shoes

We first met at James Madison University during my sophomore year and Tristin's junior year through mutual friends. I wasn’t exactly impressed when he took my Flaming Hot Cheetos and set them on fire to prove they could burn like a candle—but clearly, he left a lasting impression! Throughout our time at JMU, we kept crossing paths. It wasn’t until the days of COVID that we really started spending more time together. Alongside two other couples, we formed a little quarantine crew and hung out often. Those couples were always telling us we should date—and we always laughed it off with a “no way!” That is, until they tried to set Tristin up with someone else. Suddenly, I found myself saying, “Wait... why are you giving away my man?” After that, everything shifted. The flirting turned into feelings, and in September 2020, we hung out—just the two of us—for the first time. From that very weekend, I knew he was the one. Tristin, on the other hand, took a little more convincing (he’ll admit it!). Not long after, we found ourselves in a medium-distance relationship, driving back and forth between Charlottesville and Woodbridge most weekends just to spend time together. Those long drives and weekend visits quickly became something we both looked forward to—and they only made us closer. Nearly three years later, in July 2023, we took a big step together and bought our first home in Fredericksburg. Then, on March 21, 2025, Tristin proposed—and the rest is history in the making.