Lanie and C.J.’s story began almost 20 years ago where they met in their kindergarten class at St. Edward School. But the love story didn’t begin until much later. It wasn’t until they sat next to one another in their seventh grade algebra class that they formed a friendship. They began dating shortly after.

C.J. and Lanie both attended Father Ryan High School where C.J. played baseball and football and Lanie played volleyball and threw for the track and field team. Since they were both busy with sports and school, they spent every minute they could together on weekends.

In 2018, Lanie and C.J. both moved to Knoxville to attend the University of Tennessee. They were both committed to their studies and never partied. In 2020, Covid hit and C.J. moved back to Nashville to begin EMT school while Lanie stayed in Knoxville to finish her degree. For the next two years, they continued to date despite the distance. C.J. would often visit Knoxville on the weekends to visit Lanie and her new puppy, Beau.

Jumping ahead to 2022, Lanie had graduated from UTK and C.J. was about to start a new job with Wilson County EMA. They moved in together in October of 2022 after renovating a 1970s townhome. The following December, they welcomed a new addition to the family named Wilson.

After 3,892 days of dating, C.J. proposed in December of 2023 at Cheekwood.

Map and Directions