I always knew of Dylan, since we were both from Cheraw, but we never hung out. However, every time Dylan would see me, whether be at the Mexican restaurant in Cheraw, Cheraw Braves football games, walking to USC football games, or even outside the bathroom of the Williams-Brice Stadium, he would always give me a big hug, an even bigger smile, and ask me how I had been. Not sure why I remember that, but now it makes a little more sense.

I remember being at Elizabeth's cabin one night and I got a notification that Dylan added me on snapchat. I was like...okay, that's random. I added him back, of course, but he didn't snapchat me for a few days. I started snap chatting him a little, and then I kind of just stopped.

However, Dylan did not stop snap chatting me. I would get at least two, if not three snapchats from him daily for months. I remember the snapchats being so random; selfies of him at work, pictures of his coffee or Chick-Fil-A or at Cantina, and pictures of him in the mirror. I, now realizing how messed up it was of me, continued to leave him on open and not responding.

Dylan also did not stop at just snap chatting me, he also would respond to my Instagram stories of songs.

It was not until Elizabeth called me one day, telling me that her, Jordan, and Dylan were going to the lake to jet ski since Dylan had just bought a jet ski, and that Dylan needed someone to go with. I immediately remembered all the times Dylan had tried to talk to me, and decided to try to talk to him and get an invite, hoping it was not too late.

After snap chatting him for four hours, I got the invite to the lake! The Saturday before the lake, I drove back to Columbia from Cheraw so I could go out to dinner at Cantina 76 with him. I remember he looked so cute and was so nice and I could tell he was a little interested in me. I did not want to stop hanging out with him, so after we ate I invited him to come hang out with my roommates and me.

The next day, we drove all the way to Lake Tillery from Columbia and found out we had a lot more in common than we thought! Same music taste, our dads have had the same heart surgery, we hate all the same foods, and much more. I usually get a bit of anxiety about first dates, but with him it was more like we were long lost soulmates. Nothing seemed unnatural, unreal, or awkward. I felt like I had been hanging out with him for years and we had been friends forever.

Even though he flung not only me, but himself and my sunglasses off the jet ski, I did not care. I remember coming up out of the water laughing, just happy to be there with him, as we watched his jet ski drive off away from us in the lake. (Don't worry, we got it back). I knew then that I would never have a dull moment with him. And I hate dull! But I also knew that he would always be there for me and protect me, because immediately after he swam straight to me to make sure I was okay and the least of his worries was his jet ski driving off into the water.

That night after Dylan dropped me off at my apartment, I immediately facetimed my best friend Mackenzie. What girl doesn't fill her best friend in after a date? I rambled on for at least forty-five minutes about how much fun I had, everything Dylan and I talked about, how similar we are, and of course, how cute he was. After I finally finished filling her in, I told her, "Mackenzie...I think I actually like this boy." And she said, "Oh, I can tell."

It did not take me long to figure out that Dylan was the man I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. He is caring, and I know he will always take care of me and whoever else in my family or his needs it. He is the most loving man. I love his big, goofy smile and all I ever want to do is to make sure he keeps smiling big and goofy until the end our days. He is a diligent worker, loves God, and loves not only his family, but mine. To me, he deserves the world and if I could wrap it up myself with a great big bow and hand it to him, I would.

It was a long journey to get here, but once we finally got together, we could not be apart. And now, we never will.

Our Photos

The Proposal

Engagement Photos

Our Photos