Here's the long story...

Since the start of our relationships, Katie told Joe that she didn't think she would ever want to get married. She mentioned it so much that Joe recognized that he wouldn't bring it up unless Katie resurfaced the conversation or he got an inkling that she would change her mind.

One day while walking in a local Jacksonville park, Katie goes, "So, hypothetically speaking...if you got an engagement ring, what would you want?" Joe quickly picked up on the fact that it wasn't in fact hypothetical. However, Katie would later find out he had already begun plotting and planning months earlier. He was actively designing a custom engagement ring, he had already asked for blessings, he was planning what he wanted to say and how he wanted to ask this very important question.

While Joe was away doing Navy things for extended periods of time in Summer/Fall 2024, he continued to coordinate the engagement with the ring company and our dear friends helping to plot the proposal (shoutout to Josh and Jenn!). Meanwhile, Katie was left oblivious. One evening, she went to dinner with Josh and Jenn (and their three kids), and said, "If Joe and I were to get married, I think I would need to ask him...I think I'm going to propose." Katie thought they kept this secret, but little did she know...(it's okay, Katie forgives you!).

Joe tried to convince Katie to go on a weekend trip to Amelia Island, because he wanted to reenact the moment they made the relationship official. Katie, being the homebody she is, was adamant about staying with the puppies and working on our newly purchased home.

So, Joe had to come up with Plan B.

They had plans to go to Savannah, Georgia to see their favorite band, Time Sawyer, at the Isle of Hope Music Festival. Joe reached out to the band for a big favor (see initial email outreach below). He found out friends were going to meet us at the concert (shoutout to Kati, Kev, and Ollie!) and asked for them to capture the magic.

Meanwhile, Katie didn't tell a soul. Katie thought, "Well, the first person I would want to tell that I'd like to propose to Joe is Joe, so...I'll just have to wait to tell people." Katie did indeed reach out to the band (see screenshot below), but kept things fairly vague.

October 26, 2024. They head to the festival and enjoy the beautifully sunny afternoon. Time Sawyer comes on, Katie and Joe enjoy the band’s tunes and sing along. Then, Sam (lead singer), says, "We have some special friends in the audience from Jacksonville, Katie and Joe are with us...this song has always meant quite a bit to them and it means a lot to us. Appreciate y'all and glad you're here."

The band begins to play their song: Oak & Pine. Joe and Katie get up and dance - the only ones dancing, and they were totally okay with that. The song ends, Joe reached into his fanny pack (this is how Katie knew he was going to propose...he never wears a fanny pack), and asks Katie to marry him. She, without hesitation, says yes, and they celebrate with joy.

Before Time Sawyer moves on to the next song, Katie shouts, "Wait! Wait! Wait!" She rushes to the table they were at, grabs the ring box, gets down on one knee, and asks Joe to marry her. He, without hesitation, says yes, and they celebrate with more joy.

Sam says to the crowd, "I'm going to give you all a little context to this, because I'm aware now of what's happening. Both of them reached out to us unknowing the other reached out to us about this EXACT moment."

After their set, they connected with the band to express most sincere gratitude. One more time for the band - THANK YOU Court, Jordan, Nick, Sam, and Time Sawyer Management!

Check out the song that means so much to the couple: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f48hjErzHu0

We encourage you to spend time soaking in the lyrics, melodies, and harmonies of Time Sawyer: https://www.timesawyer.com/

"It takes some time to know your leaves. But, you're the prize of all the trees."

#KatiesCupOfJoe