Avriana and Carter's story began, you guessed it, in Wayne, America back in February of 2024. Like most love stories do, theirs was unexpected, beginning with a look across a room, a smile, and Carter being completely blind to the fact that Avriana was interested in him.

After this brief hiccup, Carter came to his senses, falling hard and fast for the girl that would quickly become his everything. He would go on to say that even after their very first date, which saw them play Bacci Ball, eat at The 4th Jug, and watch Love is Blind, he knew there was something different about Avriana, and that she just might be the one for him.

The two began hanging out regularly, hesitant to let their true feelings show out of fear of a lack of reciprocation, but after some encouragement and time, it was undeniable. They were head over heels for each other, and after a few dates, Carter worked up the courage to ask Avriana to be his girlfriend in the Norfolk Target parking lot.

Their love only grew from then on. They met each others families, traveled to hangout despite Carter teaching in his 1st year and Avriana completing her undergrad at Wayne State, attended concerts, and enjoyed every minute of it. After just three months, on a short walk through the Old Market after a Charles Wesley Godwin concert, Carter worked up the courage to tell Avriana that he loved her. Avriana, tears in her eyes, said it back, and they celebrated with late night McDonalds, at which point Avriana told Carter she had known that was how he had felt for some time.

After the summer, Avriana moved to Wakefield and Carter began his second year, but this didn't stop them from seeing one another every chance they could. They continued to visit several times a week, attend each other's graduation ceremonies, and celebrated one another's accomplishments.

Fast forward even more, and their love continued to grow faster and stronger than either of them had anticipated. They learned more about one another, became cornerstones in one another's lives, and even went on to travel to Oklahoma, Cancun, New York City, and Canada together. Through it all, they had became more and more comfortable with talking about the possibility of forever. They began looking for rings, and after finding the perfect fit for both of them, one was purchased, you guessed it, from a Target parking lot.

A few months later, on a cold January evening after a speech meet, Carter got down on one knee and once again worked up the courage to ask Avriana something very important; he asked her to be his wife.

Not long after, the two were gifted a surprise that neither of them saw coming. They were expecting a baby boy! I guess courage wasn't the only thing Carter was working up, huh?

With a wedding to plan, a baby on the way, graduate programs for both of them to finish, and everything else that life was throwing their way, Avriana and Carter moved in to a house together prior to Carter's third year of teaching. After a glorious nine months (from Carter's POV), the two welcomed their son, Merrick James Ossian, on September 18th, 2025. Ever since he was born, he has continued to be a handsome, calm, attentive, curious, bubbly little blue-eyed baby boy that his parents (and grandparents) fawn over.

To say that Avriana and Carter's story has been an adventure would be a severe understatement. The two have weathered some of life's hardest difficulties and most challenging moments, all before even meeting at the altar. Despite it all, the two could not be more happily in love and excited to tie the knot!