Timmy and Gracie met for the very first time on November 6, 2021 when they each decided to go on a camping trip to the Virginia Creeper trail with a group of young adults from Fellowship Church. Gracie knew only one person going on said camping trip, Casey (Young) Carter, who would one day become her maid of honor and future sister-in-law. So with high hopes and a determination to make new friends in Knoxville, Gracie drove up to the “White House” where the group was assembled to carpool to the Creeper. Upon arriving at Timmy and Phillip’s house, Gracie quickly realized that Timmy’s dog was also named Gracie. This was equal parts hilarious and annoying, but above all else it showed that he clearly likes the name.

Throughout the first evening of the Virginia Creeper trip, Gracie made active efforts to avoid Timmy because she was set on making female friends that weekend. However, while biking the Virginia Creeper trail the next day, Timmy maneuvered his way into riding next to her and chatting for the majority of the 17 mile ride. The sparks really began to fly when, over lunch, the two bonded over their strong conviction that Heinz is the best and only acceptable ketchup brand.

Following the camping trip, Gracie and Timmy spent a lot of time together in community with their newly formed friend group. This eventually lead to a deepening friendship and a handful of dates. However, the Lord still had some work to do in both of their lives, and as such, they remained friends for the following year.

Then, almost a year later in September 2022 on a Sunday after church, Timmy knocked on Gracie’s car door to ask if he could talk to her. Due to Gracie’s irresistible charm and infectious personality, Timmy had no choice but confess his feelings to her again and ask her on an official date. Gracie admittedly grilled him a little bit, but eventually said yes and thus began their true love story.

Their first date was at Abridged Beer Co on October 5th, 2022 which Timmy had thoughtfully chosen because they offer kombucha and Gracie wasn’t drinking that week as she was running a marathon the upcoming Saturday. The date started with a deep conversation about the Lord and life goals and ended with the two of them laughing as loud as possible while rolling backwards down the hill in the parking lot. This was a perfect foreshadowing of what their dating relationship would come to look like.

The next year and a half would include a lot of deep conversations, laughter, prayer, support, adventures, and just plain goofiness. Their dating relationship has taken them from Tennessee to Pennsylvania and all the way Southeast Asia! Date nights have included everything from chill movie nights to learning to rock climb to backpacking the Virginia triple crown. Above all, both Timmy and Gracie would say that the best thing they’ve done together is push one another closer to the Lord, helping each other become the man/woman in Christ that they were created to be.

Finally, on March 2, 2024 Timmy proposed to Gracie at the overlook at Lakeshore Park where they had shared date nights and celebrations of job offers. I (Gracie) enthusiastically said yes and that is why you’re now reading this page!

That’s the end of this story, but only the beginning of the greater one God is writing for our lives! We can’t wait to celebrate with you on September 28th!