Who would’ve thought that two right swipes and a conversation about Yellowstone would end in Happily Ever After?
Around two years ago, Nate found himself in the monotony of swiping left and right through Hinge with no luck, until one April afternoon when a tall blonde, sporting a Yellowstone t-shirt in a Honky Tonk bar, came across his screen. He was intrigued and knew just how to spark the conversation. After seeing a message request pop up from a tall, rugged, former collegiate football player asking about her current favorite TV show, we’d be lying if we said Gracie’s interest wasn’t piqued. After striking up a conversation about cowboys, indians, and trouble on the Yellowstone Ranch, Nate wasted no time in asking Gracie to accompany him to the local watering hole in Birmingham later that evening. Unfortunately, Gracie was on a girl’s trip in Panama City, so the two settled on a date at Automatic Seafood the following week once Gracie was back in town.
Nate and Gracie met for the first time outside of the restaurant on May 4, 2022. Dinner was full of good food, great conversation, and a wacky waiter with a lot to say. The two found that they had a lot in common and were both excited to see each other again, although neither had admitted it yet. After the meal, Nate walked Gracie to her car and the date ended with the infamous side-hug. Gracie was convinced that she had totally misread the wonderful couple of hours before and that she’d never hear from him again. But luckily, to her surprise, she had a message waiting for her before she even made it home asking to see her again the following Friday night.
The two went out more than once that weekend and were completely smitten with each other. Gracie showed off her skills at the pool table and Nate showed Gracie some hidden treasures in Birmingham that she hadn’t gotten to explore since moving to town. The weekend ended with a first kiss and an invitation from Gracie for a homemade meal at her place the following week. Gracie always jokes that her love language is making sure that people are fed and this time was no different. After sharing a meal in her home less than a week after their first date, Nate knew Gracie was a girl he didnt want to lose, so on May 10, 2022, Nate asked Gracie to be his girlfriend.
Fast forward a few weeks and it was time for Gracie to show Nate her stomping grounds. The two, accompanied by some of their best friends, made the trek to a local favorite in Wetumpka, AL, Alabama’s Little Bit of Texas. For those of you that don’t know, Gracie can Boot Scoot’N Boogie with the best of them and, luckily, Nate was a great sport. Whether it was the Roadhouse lookalike bar complete with a sawdust dance floor, the winded moments after performing Copperhead Road, or the slow dance to Tennessee Whiskey, this night would be the night that Nate knew he was in love with Gracie and she most definitely felt the same way.
Fast forward several months and the two found themselves feeling like something was missing. So the search for a furry friend began. After a facebook scam and losing $250, the couple was discouraged and almost gave up on their search, but a few weeks later they were excited to receive a message from a lady in Nashville with Shichon puppies for sale. They made the trip 8 weeks later to pick up their sweet Dolly and their little family was complete for now.
The next year went by quickly filled with raising a puppy, Nate starting his own company and Gracie working through clinical year of PA school. That December, Gracie found herself wrestling with graduation, searching for a job, and passing boards, but above all else, one question filled her brain more than anything. When would she get to say “YES” to forever with the love of her life?? She was convinced that Nate was going to propose on their vacation to Gatlinburg following graduation, but she didn’t have to wait quite that long to get her answer. On December 2nd, she woke up with excitement to get all dolled up for her PA School Prom, a last hoorah with all of her classmates before graduation and a night out on the town with her honey. Nate had made reservations for them at the place where they first met, Automatic Seafood. You’d think Gracie might’ve gotten suspicious, but she was so convinced a proposal would come on vacation, she didn’t think twice about dinner. The two pulled up at the valet and just before walking in the door, Nate realized he “forgot his wallet in the truck”. Gracie stepped back for him to turn around and to her surprise he was pulling a little black box from his pocket and getting down on one knee. She was so overwhelmed with love and excitement that she failed to notice, her best friend, Jordan, had just popped out of the bushes to photograph the entire thing. Gracie said “YES” without hesitation and the two celebrated over dinner and dancing at PA Prom.
From the beginning, the two knew that the other had been what they were searching for all along. With each other, everything finally made sense. They are so excited to celebrate the culmination of their love and the beginning of life’s new adventure as husband and wife with you all at their wedding.