Cooper and I first met eight years ago at Happening, a church retreat hosted at St. Peter’s By-The-Sea Episcopal Church in Gulfport, Mississippi. We did not know each other very well, but after a fun and emotional weekend, we were definitely bonded for life. Throughout high school, we each dated different people and had various groups of friends in our separate hometowns. We would always continuously reunite at Episcopal events such as Camp Bratton Green, DOY, and Happening. It was not until our freshmen year of college that Cooper made the first move and reached out to me during spring break. We were both staying in 30A with our newly made college friends, and Cooper wanted to hang out with me. Unfortunately, I was already leaving the beach when he messaged me. We both decided to reconnect back at Ole Miss after that week, and after numerous lunch dates and walks together, Cooper asked me on our first date.

For our first date, Cooper asked me to go on a picnic with him at the sunset tower, where three years later, he would ask me to marry him at the same place. A picnic had always been my dream date idea, and Cooper did not disappoint. He brought strawberries, crackers, lemonade, a picnic blanket, and a speaker, and we talked and laughed for hours sitting up at the tower. We both knew that we wanted to be together, and a few days later, he asked me to be his NOLA formal date. This is a big deal for college students, and I was so excited to do this weekend trip with him. To no surprise, we had an absolute blast in New Orleans together, and after those three days, we both knew this relationship was meant to stay forever.

Throughout these past few years, Cooper and I have embarked on so many unforgettable adventures. Our favorite memories together include our past trips to South Africa, Thailand, and Japan, and we loved getting to design our dream itinerary for each of these experiences. We both worked multiple jobs throughout college and saved every penny to be able to travel to these dream locations, and through working and traveling, we created a bond like no other. Cooper has been my rock throughout college, supporting me during hardships and successes. I can’t imagine getting to do what we do with anyone else, and I’m so excited for what the future holds.

Nearing the end of our college career, we had the busiest weekend of our lives. We had senior pictures, exams, four graduations in a row, a graduation party, and Mother’s Day brunch. What else could possibly happen that weekend? On the last day of our celebratory weekend, Cooper insisted that we visit the sunset tower one last time. As a photographer who has photographed past proposals, I already had my suspicions. To test my theories, I messed with Cooper and came up with multiple reasons why I did not want to go. It was supposed to rain, I was already exhausted from the weekend, I did not want to do my hair or makeup again, my parents were still in town with us, and we were in the process of moving out. In the end, I was convinced to go by both my parents and Cooper, and much to everyone’s surprise, the sun came out for the exact one hour that Cooper popped the question. He wrote the most beautiful letter and read it out to me up at the tower, and through tearful hugs and smiles, I said yes. My photographer friend Keli Lindsey, her daughter Lillian, and her friends captured the entire moment with their cameras and drone, and the memory could not have been better. Our friends and family later surprised us back at Cooper’s family’s condo, and the weekend exceeded every expectation than I could have ever imagined.

Cooper and I are currently living in Jackson this year until the wedding, and we will be close to family, saving money for our future life goals, and continuing to raise our three rescue cats (Blue, Larry, and Matcha). We hope to move to a bigger city after the wedding, either somewhere on the East Coast, West Coast, or potentially abroad - New Orleans is our current favorite pick. I will be continuing my photography business and going full-time, specializing in weddings and portraits and hoping to do more destination weddings. Cooper is looking at real estate and finance jobs while also serving at Bravo! in Jackson, along with helping my dad manage Rent Jackson and get some practice here. We are so excited for what the future holds, and we are so thankful to have such a strong support system of loving friends and family! Cheers to the future!