It all started with a scheme. Jenny, Kate’s sister, had met a new young professional (aka me) in the Campus Recreation & Wellness department at Elon University. I had just started a new job in a new city, taking a leap of faith to try something out of my comfort zone. Jenny and I worked together quite a bit through our roles at Elon, and after a few chats, Jenny’s gears started turning. Kate had been at Elon for a year already and just so happened to be single. I was also single and looking for any sort of connection in the new city. So, Jenny came up with a plan to introduce us at an on-campus event. Kate was a bit nervous and didn’t know what to think or where to put the cookies she had just picked up. My mind was spinning, knowing I was finally going to meet my club sport leaders & staff. The chaos of the event all seemed to fade away as Kate approached, and for a moment, there wasn’t anything else that mattered. Just an instant connection that blocked out all the noise and surroundings. Love at first sight, some might say.

Now, wouldn’t that be nice if it was scripted up like that! Although that meeting did happen, it wasn’t until a few months later that Kate and I finally started talking. When the two of us finally reconnected after our first meeting, I planned our first date at a local brewery. With sweaty palms and a nervous smile, I picked Kate up for the date. Some casual conversation started up on the short drive to the brewery, and we both seemed to be enjoying ourselves. As we pulled up to the Red Oak Brewery - on a Tuesday after work might I add - an oddly abandoned parking lot awaited us. I anxiously checked my phone: CLOSED; I looked at my gas tank: NEAR E. A disastrous start to a first date, one would think. As we headed to the gas station, I was scrambling to think of something else to do. Kate was sitting in the car, probably wondering if she was going to make it out alive. I pivoted to another local bar, and we were on our way. The night went on with trivia (where we unfortunately tied for last place) and local beers. By the end of the night, Kate and I both found ourselves with a little pep in our step and smiles on our faces.

Fast forward a few months - Kate was planning three trips to three different parts of the world, while I was preparing for some trips home; prior to this, we had been inseparable. With COVID looming in the distance, we began trying to figure out the next steps for Kate after graduation. Hoping to stay near each other, we searched for every job we could imagine in North Carolina. With COVID crushing the job pool, and after many conversations, Kate landed a job at Boise State, just a quick trip across the COUNTRY in Boise, ID. We made it work the next year, with trips from coast to coast and meeting in the middle to see family. After about a year and a half of dating, I knew that Kate was the one for me (I knew since about day 3, but it was time to start planning!). I enlisted the help of Jenny and Alan (Kate’s sister and brother-in-law) to help organize the engagement. From Memorial Day 2021, Jenny, Alan, and I went to work on putting things together!

Not long after the planning process began, Kate and I had decided to move to Virginia to work at VCU. As you can imagine, this complicated things a little bit. However, I knew that I wanted to go back to the spot where it almost all began: Red Oak Brewery. I, along with Jenny, Alan, and the whole family, put together a plan to bring everyone together for a fun-filled engagement weekend. There were photographers to book, grocery store runs to make, pictures to print, and so much more, all while trying to keep the whole thing hidden from Kate. Hiding the ring in my bin of hats was a risk, for sure, but certainly one that paid off. Throughout our time in Virginia, Kate and I were struggling with our work/living situation. We wanted more space, more time, and a change of direction in our lives. I knew this would come from the engagement, but Kate wanted some other changes - something like starting new jobs and moving to a new state, ONE WEEK before the engagement that Brett & Co. had been planning for a year. We did get awesome new jobs and a wonderful new city to live in, and Kate was certainly surprised by the engagement. She was even more surprised when our family showed up to celebrate after I got down on one knee!

Since the engagement, we have been busy planning our wedding day/weekend for you all. We hope you are able to enjoy the area we get to call home, and if you have any questions at all, please let us know! We have enjoyed growing together, developing relationships with our family and friends, and trying to teach our cats to love each other. We ask for your prayers as we enter into this union together, and any advice is appreciated (mostly for me!). We are beyond blessed and pray that you all have safe travels! Can’t wait to see you in September.

Cheers!

Brett (& Kate)