Her story...

It all began November 3, 2012, the night of our best friends' wedding (Kaylie & Chris Soule). I was Kaylie's maid of honor and he was a groomsman. At the time, Shef and I were both single so we decided to go together. Here I was thinking it would be a fun night with a really good looking guy and nothing more than that. Shef and I both went to college at UNC-Wilmington and had hung out a few times because of mutual friends but did not know each other well. He was always considered the "bachelor" and never really dated seriously so in my mind, dating this guy was not an option.

Fast forward a few hours later after several glasses of wine and not much to eat (bad combo I know). My dance moves became more inappropriate and I got a little heavier for Shef to hold up. We danced the night away and Kaylie told Shef to make sure he took care of me and got me home safely because my dad was someone he didn't want to mess with. Shef made sure I was home safely and was a gentleman to say the least.

The next morning, my mind was filled with thoughts of him and I decided to send him a text...The rest is HISTORY.

They knew about each other in college; but it was nothing more than a casual "Hi" or sheepish hand wave from afar. He would joke about how she was his "dream girl" ...if the timing would ever allow them to both to be single at the same time.

Turns out, as fate would have it, the stars aligned and they went as dates to a wedding they were both in. They got to know each other better at the wedding and as they left Wilmington, NC; he driving to Charleston, SC and she driving to Charlotte, NC...she texted him!

As he looked down at his phone and smiled, he thought to himself "this could be the beginning of something beautiful."

They dated while living in separate cities, but the distance only drew them closer to each other. He was the first to say "I Love You." He moved to Charlotte to take a new job and allow the relationship to blossom. They began going to church together and spending time with each others' families.

One day, he had reached the point of boiling over and he requested her father's permission for her hand in marriage. Her father said "Of course, as long as you take care of her." His response was, "Of course!"

The ring was purchased and permission was granted. All that was left was to pop the question! On Saturday, January 21, 2017 they hiked to the top of Crowder's Mountain with their three dogs. While at the peak of the mountain, surrounded by nothing but clouds and wilderness, he got down on one knee and confidently asked "Kelly Marie Carmola, will you marry me and make me the happiest man alive?"

She said yes, he shouted from the mountain top and the crowd went wild! The rest is as they say "history".