On a random Saturday in Fort Worth, January 2023, Carter met a gentleman at the gym. At the time, he thought nothing of the interaction. However, a few weeks later, he received a text out of the blue from the man he had met. The gentleman offered Carter two last-minute tickets to a James Beard Award finalist dinner at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth. Carter was ecstatic about the opportunity to attend the dinner, but there was one problem: he needed a date for the second ticket.

With the event less than 72 hours away, it was quite a scramble to find someone to join him. Carter knew of Claire through a mutual friend and decided to reach out. Claire was in nursing school at the time and politely mentioned that she was unavailable that evening. As the hours ticked away before the event, Carter was at risk of going alone. He sent one last desperate text to Claire, hoping for a change of heart, and to his delight, she finally said yes! A few hours later, they met, went on a quick walk through the neighborhood as a makeshift speed date, and then attended the event that evening.

Carter and Claire experienced an instant connection. It was obvious to those around them because throughout the night, other couples asked them how long they had been dating, with some even inquiring about how long they had been married! They quickly noticed each other’s energy, ability to connect with others, and shared heart for the Lord. Additionally, they discovered that they had similar aspirations and their personalities complemented each other well. At the end of the evening, Carter asked if it would be possible to see Claire again in a more personal setting, to which she graciously agreed. And so, it was off to the races.

After dating for a year and a half, they got engaged in California on July 5th, 2024. Carter and Claire are immensely thankful for the love and support of their family and friends, and they are excited to celebrate with everyone on April 4th, 2025!