Brad and Kannan originally swiped right on each other on a dating app on December 15, 2022. They talked for a few days, but Kannan works night shift and Brad is a coach, so their schedules weren't lining up to talk to each other. Fast forward to January 10, 2023 and he sent her a random message asking how she was doing. They have talked every day since! That was actually Kannan's second day of nursing school.

A family friend of Kannan's, David Thacker, is a school resource officer on his off days from the fire department at Pine Tree Middle School. While planning the first date, Kannan had David ask around the school to make sure this guy was up to par. David said he checks out and had nothing but great reviews from admin and other teachers. Kannan gives David a lot of credit for doing his background check on him because if he didn't, they probably wouldn't be together today (so she says).

They talked for two weeks before meeting. The weekend Kannan wanted to meet, Brad had a football clinic (football always coming first!), so they had to settle on the next weekend, January 21, 2023. Brad asked Kannan if Circle M Crawfish was okay, and she eagerly said yes (because she LOVES Circle M Crawfish). Before leaving her house, she told her mom bye and her mom responded, "Are you really going out on a first date in THAT?" Kannan had on a pair of leggings, a Texas A&M sweatshirt, tennis shoes, and no makeup except mascara - but her hair was at least curled. She responded, "Well I'm going like this because this is how I look everyday. So if he doesn't like me like this, then this isn't going to work out." Luckily Kannan won him over with her personality and boiled shrimp eating abilities and not her outfit.

Kannan knew Brad had ordered the engagement ring because they were sitting at a Randy Rogers Band concert and he immediately started getting clammy, sweaty, and pale. He looks at her and said, "I just spent a lot of money." They still joke about that to this day. However, she wouldn't be getting that engagement ring until late October.

Brad had made up his mind he wanted to propose to Kannan surrounded by his family and closest friends - after a home Friday night football game win. He held on to this ring for weeks before there was finally a Friday night that was home and they won. On Friday, October 27th, 2023, the Pine Tree Pirates defeated the Mt Pleasant Tigers 41-14 on Pine Tree's home field. Brad ran from the press box to the field so he could propose to Kannan. Brad made it short and sweet and said, "Kannan, I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?" They were surrounded by family, coaches, friends, athletes, and strangers during this special moment. Even Brad's dad was able to make it from Illinois for the game and proposal. The football players went wild - yelling, spraying water, and jumping up and down. It was truly a special proposal.

Wedding Day

Ceremony

Reception

Open beer + wine until 9:30pm - Cash bar 9:30pm until midnight