I met Jacqueline Shepherd at the Cathedral of Christ the King, where I was a parishioner at the time. She reached out to ask if I would be interested in being set up with her older brother, and shared a few facts about him. By that point, dating had worn me down, so I was excited at the idea of meeting someone who was pre-vetted by a friend. We met for a blind date, a drink at Punch Bowl Social at The Battery in Atlanta, and from my point of view, “there were no red flags.” Over the next few weeks, we met up for several more dates and became hooked. We continued to get to know each other while beginning the whirlwind of meeting friends and family. Over the course of the year, we decided we wanted to take the next step towards a life together. We picked out a ring together, and Patrick proposed on July 18th, 2025 under the gazebo at the Marietta Square. For those wondering... no, I was not surprised, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm also happy to announce that there are still no red flags!

On July 12th, 2024, my sister Jacqueline sent me the following text: “Got someone interested in going on a date with you! Her name is Christy Dail and I told her I’d give you her number so you could reach out!” I proceeded to stall, unsure if I wanted to be set up on a blind date. Jacqueline saw right through me and offered to draft the initial message. Although I did not use her template, I reached out to Christy and set up a date at the Punch Bowl Social at the Battery Atlanta. We met just outside the Battery Red Deck and proceeded to head to the Punch Bowl Social and I got us some Los Bravos to sip on. We sat on the patio of the bar, and the time flew by. I left the date knowing I wanted to see her again. There were early indicators she may be the one when she suggested we go to an Atlanta United match for our second date, and our relationship flourished ever since. Since then, we’ve enjoyed many brunches, sporting events, game nights, trips, and family time together. And now, I couldn’t be more grateful that what started as a blind date has led me to marry my best friend. (Shoutout Jacqueline)