It started at the end of 2017, when we became friends at Christ the King Church in Nashville. We had both been consistently attending young adult events there, but Matt introduced himself to Caroline when he heard her say she attended the University of Alabama like he did. We continued to talk when we would see each other at other events like this, both admitting later we had a crush on each other early on. We continued to attend the same social functions, even playing on the same volleyball team, and sharing a canoe for a Memorial Day canoe trip. In December of 2018, we sat together for a concert at the The Cathedral of the Incarnation (where we are now getting married). Soon after, Matt asked Caroline to go with him a Christmas party...you could say this was our first date. This was followed by dinner a week later, and then it was history after that.

It was Matt’s birthday weekend in 2021. We had gotten through the pandemic together, and were hoping to get away somewhere fun to celebrate his birthday. Matt loving history, and us both enjoying visiting old southern towns & homes, decided to take a weekend to Natchez, MS. It is the cutest and most quaint town if you have never been, with old historical homes, good shopping & food, and a casino right on the river. We were staying at an old pre-civil war mansion turned B&B, and were leaving to go to dinner. Matt asked Caroline if we should take a picture outside before going to dinner. Caroline, not thinking a thing, was looking for a good picture spot asking if we should take a selfie and figuring out logistics. Then, when Matt called Caroline’s name to get her attention, he was on one knee asking her to marry him. Of course she said yes! With it being Matt’s birthday weekend and Matt being able to keep secrets like no other, Caroline was definitely surprised, but couldn’t be happier.