It all started at the YMCA gym in Watertown, NY, where we met through a mutual friend. Emma’s first impression of Charles wasn’t exactly love at first sight—she thought he was just another meathead. Meanwhile, Charles was struck by how pretty Emma was. Despite that rocky start, we quickly became friends, spending a few months getting to know each other without any romantic intentions.

As time went on, we discovered just how much we had in common. We both love the outdoors, have a soft spot for dogs, and could eat Mexican food every day. Even more importantly, we shared similar goals and dreams for the future. One day, Emma decided to bring Charles along on a trip to Texas to visit her family and friends. It was a spontaneous decision, but it turned out to be a pivotal moment in our relationship. Charles clicked with everyone right away, and it was then that Emma realized he might be even more special than she thought. Soon after, we made our relationship official, started going on regular ice cream dates, and even welcomed our puppy, Nala, into the mix.

Fast forward 1.5 years to a trip to Texas. We were there for Emma to attend a bachelorette party, but we extended our stay to celebrate her birthday with family. Emma loves brunch, so we had planned to go out with her parents before taking a walk in the park. After trying three different restaurants, we finally landed at Harry's in downtown Houston - where in classic Emma fashion, she picked the meal that included ice cream. Following brunch, we headed to McGovern Centennial Gardens, where Charles, with Nala by his side, got down on one knee. Emma said "yes" without hesitation, and to top it all off, a few of our closest friends and Emma's brother popped out of the bushes to surprise us. It was the perfect moment to start the next chapter of our lives together.