As cliche as it sounds, we met in December 2017 via the dating app, Bumble. We exchanged laughs, stories, and all the other awkward first date things at a hip local spot in Durham, NC called MotorCo Parts & Labor a week after connecting. Caitlin was living in Durham and working in RTP while Grant was living as a house dad for a fraternity at NC State and working at Duke University while pursing his Masters in Higher Education.

Fast forward 6 months later, Grant accepted a job at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia and we continued our relationship, long distance. We took turns driving between Virginia and North Carolina a few weekends a month, but eventually grew tired of the 3-hour commute. They moved in together in May 2020 and have had the chance to spend almost every second of every day together because of COVID-19.

Grant knew early on that he wanted to marry Caitlin but wanted to make sure she wasn't too crazy by living with her and Taxie first. After a few months, he realized she was the perfect amount of crazy and began planning the proposal.

With the help of his step-brother, Sean, and his band, Among the Acres, Grant embedded a virtual proposal into the band's music video cover of the song "Free/Into the Mystic" by Zac Brown Band / Van Morrison. One weekend in November, with Caitlin's brothers, Brandon and Wesley, in attendance, Grant streamed the video over their TV and asked "Will you marry me?" Caitlin's best friend, Mari, who was in on the surprise, snuck into the apartment with champagne and balloons in tow to celebrate with us.

We cannot wait to continue writing new chapters in our life together and we look forward to sharing out our wedding day with you all!