On November 5, 2022, my life changed forever — it was the day I met Ansel for the first time. What was supposed to be a typical date quickly turned into a double when my best friend (and now bridesmaid), Emma, unexpectedly showed up at my door. I texted Ansel last minute and asked if he could bring a friend.
We decided to meet at a bar in downtown Birmingham called Tin Roof. My only requirement? The place had to be showing football — and Ansel made sure that was covered. That small detail let me know right away that we’d get along.
When Emma and I arrived, the wait for Ansel to show up began — and I was nervous. I don’t think I’ve ever been that nervous before. But then he walked through the door, and just like that, the nerves disappeared. I turned to Emma and said, “He’s either going to be the man I marry or the worst heartbreak of my life.” I hadn’t even said hello yet.
From the moment Ansel sat down, it felt like we’d known each other for years. We talked about football, life, each other, and everything in between. Neither of us wanted the night to end, so we decided to head over to Top Golf. Ansel gave me all the tips and tricks for hitting a golf ball — and to this day, Top Golf is still one of our favorite places to go. We even went the day after we got engaged.
That night flew by in the best way. It was, without a doubt, the best date I’ve ever been on. Ansel was a true gentleman the entire time, and that just made me like him even more.
From the very beginning, I knew Ansel was the man I was meant to spend my life with. I guess the old saying is true — when you know, you really do know.