Ryan's perspective:

I met Elly in October 2022 at a game night at our friend Nate’s house, and from the moment she walked in, I was hooked. She was kind, funny, and effortlessly captivating. The only problem? She was in a relationship.

So, I did the only reasonable thing—I accepted that dating her wasn’t in the cards and just got to know her. Without the usual “will-they-won’t-they” tension that comes with two single people in a small group at church, we became friends. It was easy, natural, and pressure-free.

Fast forward to May 2023—we were at a birthday party, and I casually asked about her relationship. She told me they had recently broken up. “Oh nooo,” I said, pretending to be sympathetic, but internally, I knew this was my chance.

As we talked, we realized we both had the same dream dog—a Red Golden Retriever. Nate, Elly, and I all wanted puppies from the same litter, so I got her number to start a group chat and make it happen. Well… the group chat happened. The puppies? Not so much. Nate got Harper, but Elly and I got something much different.

We started texting. Then hanging out. Then hanging out a lot. Then texting a lot. Until one night, in a Vanderbilt parking garage, we had the DTR (Define the Relationship) talk. The rest is history.

And as for that Red Golden Retriever we always talked about? We finally got one—but just one, for the both of us. Full circle.

Now, we can’t wait to start this next chapter together and celebrate with all of you!

Elly's perspective:

Shortly after moving to Nashville, I joined a small group at church, where I met Ryan. At that time, I was dating someone else, so I wasn't looking for a relationship. Fast forward to the summer of 2023, I was single now but still not seeking anything serious.

Then one day, Ryan asked if I wanted to hang out. Honestly, I didn’t think much of it. He was an outgoing guy with lots of friends, and I figured he just wanted to be friends. Little did I know, I was about to embark on a relationship unlike any other.

Our first few times hanging out were amazing—natural, easy, and so much fun! We spent our early dates at the pool, exploring the Narrows of the Harpeth, enjoying East Nashville, and making many trips to Sonic. I felt like I could spend hours with him without ever getting tired of our time together. There was always more to discuss, and soon I realized that this new relationship was evolving beyond a simple church friendship. Before I knew it, he initiated a "define-the-relationship" talk. We were both on the same page, and just like that, our dating journey began!

Together, we’ve created countless memories—trips to Oklahoma, pool days, cheering on the Georgia Bulldogs, raising our Golden Retriever (Hayes), attending concerts, enjoying coffee dates, moving to new apartments and cities, attending weddings, running races, going on beach trips, and having picnics. From the best days of my life to the most challenging ones, it has been a delight to walk alongside Ryan through it all. He is incredibly supportive, adventurous, always knows how to make me laugh, and pushes me closer to Jesus in everything I do. I can’t wait to spend my life by his side.

We are so excited to celebrate with everyone! Thank you so much for all of your support and celebration during this sweet time in our lives.

Q + A

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