The First Date

It all started with a swipe right.

Blake and I matched on tinder, even though I told my parents for over a year that we met at a bar, in May of 2019. First thing Blake told me was that he was looking for a wife. I laughed at him. I blew him off so much the first week but thankfully he is very persistent.

Our first date was just two weeks later. We went to a rodeo an hour and half away from home. We had so much fun, and then went to Sonic afterwards for ice cream. It was right there in that Sonic parking lot in Batesville, Ms that I knew this man was going to change my life.

From that moment, it has been an amazing ride. We jumped in head first and have rode every wave together. We moved in together just two months after meeting and we haven't been apart for more than a weekend since.

The Engagement Story

Oh, this is such a funny story to tell.

Blake and I always eat lunch together, even if it is over a phone call. He called me one day and told me that Zak Whitfield (Groomsman) was FINALLY planning to propose to his beautiful girlfriend Katelyn Rinehart. I screamed!!! I was so excited for them and could not wait to help plan and set this up. It was so hard trying to keep my mouth shut about this. Mary Nellson and I had to trick Katelyn into going to get our nails done an few days before the big day. On the day of the proposal, Blake and I went to Ballard Park to set up. It was quite possibly the coldest and windiest day of the year. I decorated and took them down about ten times, because it just had to be perfect. I was so annoyed with Blake because he was acting so weird all day.

Once we got everything set up and we were getting ready, we were in the car waiting on Zak and Katelyn and I picked up Blake's phone and he jumped FROM THE BACK SEAT to get it away from me....weird but okay. We get out at the park and Zak is in a flannel shirt and I was so mad at him. Who wears a flannel to their engagement?? I was trying so hard to distract Katelyn so she didn't catch on to what we were doing. We get over to the gazebo that I worked so hard to set up and there are people and kids EVERYWHERE. So we awkwardly just stand there waiting on them to leave. I told them I wanted to take a picture with Blake first and then they needed to take one. I see Blake messing in his pocket and I thought "This is it. He's about to give Zak the ring"...and then he drops on one knee. My heart dropped.

If you know Blake at all, you know he loves to aggravate me. He is ALWAYS acting like he is going to propose. I thought he was playing a cruel joke on me. I tried to fight him.... Once I realized he was being serious, I was crying so hard. I have no idea what he said to me. It was the best moment of my life thus far.

I was so happy to share such a special moment with two of our best friends and he even had our wonderful photographer, Brandi Byrd, hiding in the bushes to capture this moment for us.