Holly and Zack first met on his fraternity’s formal in New Orleans in 2014. Just a few short months later, they found themselves working at the same bar, the infamous Whiskey Bent, when Holly addressed the shy Zack in a way he would never forget! Just like that, a friendship blossomed. The two went on a few date nights, but no sparks had flown yet. As the two finished their time at UGA, Holly and Zack stood together alone amongst the business students when the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences was called.

After graduation, Holly and Zack went their own ways; Zack moved back to Baltimore to continue his pursuit of dentistry and Holly moved to Atlanta to start nursing school. The two still kept in close contact, talking several times a week on the phone during Zack’s long drive home from work. One day, Zack answered the phone to a sad Holly, who told him that she had just broken up with her long-term boyfriend. She tells everyone that was the first call to she made to anyone, knowing Zack would be there to support her however he could. Just a few months later, Zack had a wedding and asked Holly if she would be his date; neither of them could have guessed what would have come of that.

Dancing the weekend away together, the two realized they couldn’t be without each other. Holly volunteered to help move Zack into his new apartment when he moved to Memphis, and ended up spending nearly a week longer than planned on the trip. A week later, Zack was in Atlanta visiting Holly just before he started dental school. At that point, they realized it was time they reconsidered whether they were best friends or in the midst of a serious relationship.

Zack and Holly made several trips between Memphis and Atlanta to see each other when they realized it was time to take the next step; Holly moved to Memphis to be with Zack while he completed dental school. Countless sushi trips at South Main Sushi, the spot of their first “official” date, and various spontaneous outings throughout Memphis ensued. At this point, Zack realized it was time to pop the question, but he knew it had to be extravagant to match how amazing Holly is.

A “birthday” trip to Miami to visit her dear friend, Cody, turned into a fairytale weekend. After begrudgingly walking onto the beach to take some pictures (the two never take pictures and one of them hates sand), Zack shocked Holly when he got down on one knee and asked her to spend the rest of her life with him.