In 2022, Blake and CD both found themselves at a crossroads -- do they move on from Nashville and find a new town to settle in, or do they stay just a little longer? Both found themselves pondering this at Shelby Park, around the same time of year, and both came to the conclusion that they'd try just a little longer.

Thankfully, the internet did something right for once (thanks Tinder!), and brought the two of them together for their first date on April 8th. Coincidentally, their second date was at Shelby Park, where they both wrote in their journals afterwards that they saw something special in one another. After a summer of swimming under full moons, traveling around the midwest, and buying trinkets for each other at the flea market, they decided to make the jump and move in together towards the end of the year.

Truth be told, the two exchanged rings and proclamations of their love a few times throughout 2023. Once on their first anniversary in the parking lot to Sid's Gold Room (where they had their first date), once on a Ferris wheel at the state fair, and once in a photobooth at the Opry Mills mall.

When the time came to truly make it official, Blake pulled off the greatest scheme he'd ever completed behind CD's back. He gathered their mother, aunt, and friends from college together for a weekend of celebration in early August of 2023.

CD knew of one of their friends coming into town, and actually guessed before the surprise was revealed that something was up. On August 10th, Blake (with the help of the dogs) asked CD to marry him in the kitchen of their apartment, and there was no doubt in their mind that they wanted to spend the rest of their life with him.

The rest of the weekend was filled with quality time spent with their friends, some meeting for the first time that weekend, and they can't wait for everyone to reconvene together again this year.