In 2020, I was a junior in my bachelor's degree and Gage was in his first year of master's degree at The University of North Carolina at Pembroke. If you know Pembroke or even if you don't, it's in the middle of nowhere and has a small population. The only people that I knew were the athletes. I decided to join a dating app and the first picture that popped up was Gage in a suit. First thought "oh he's cute". We matched and started chatting, yes gage swiped first lol.

Hurricane Isaias had come through, and most of the students had gone home but we were still there. One of my favorite stories to tell is after the hurricane, Gage had asked me if I wanted to go for a drive to Lumberton which was a town outside of Pembroke. Again, my first thought was " that’s it, I knew it was too good to be true, he was too nice. He's going to kidnap me". I sent all my friends my location and told them if I'm not back within 2 hours come look for me lol. He took me to see his favorite part of town and his favorite Italian restaurant. We eventually started dating in October and I knew within a few months that I loved him and wanted to spend he rest of my life with him.

November 24, 2022, after Thanksgiving dinner, Gage called all the family members into the living room to take a “family picture”. Everyone was in the room waiting for instructions, and suddenly Gage got down on one knee to propose. I looked at him like “I knew something was up” but of course said yes😊

We can’t wait to celebrate with you at our wedding in October!