A modern love story? We like to think so.

We met online in March of 2015; I messaged Justin first. I remember seeing his beard, his well-written profile, and our 99% match rating and thinking, yes. This is one I need to talk to. Luckily, he agreed.

We knew it was something special when neither of us wanted to end our first date, and after driving away texted until the wee morning hours. I haven't gone to bed without a goodnight text in two years.

Justin bought this gorgeous sparkler just before Thanksgiving of 2016. He started planning the epic proposal soon thereafter, and on a cold, snowy day in March, it happened.

I've always loved Gilmore Girls. I've been watching it since I was 14, and the main characters always reminded me of my mom and me. I grew up alongside Rory; no show has ever meant that much to me, before or since. Naturally, I wanted Justin to watch it. So he did - all 7 seasons. He memorized the characters, the jokes, the storylines, and debated me as well as any long-time Gilmore fan could. And when we watched Lorelai get proposed to with a thousand yellow daisies in season 1, I told him, "THAT is what a proposal should be. I've always thought so."

Fast forward to the weekend of March 10. I had been approached in January by an editor of a Tennessee travel magazine; they needed stories written about vacationing in the Smokies. I jumped at the chance, and brought Justin along for the ride. We had spent a busy day antiquing, eating at local restaurants, and wine tasting, and it was time for a nap before dinner (I might have been tipsy from all the wine). Justin, coincidentally, had his hands full and gestured for me to go first. I opened the door to a video camera. "Huh, that's odd. That looks like ours. Why is it recording? Oh no, are we in the way of a promotional video?" (I really shouldn't go to wine tastings)

"Babe, turn around. Look."

I turned around. The entire living room was filled with yellow daisies. A thousand of them, to be exact, and when I turned back to Justin he was down on one knee, saying all sorts of delightful, sweet things and holding a ring out to me. He'd spent 6 months planning a Gilmore Girls-theme proposal, complete with Gilmore figurines, a Stars Hollow poster, and the aforementioned thousand yellow daisies. The article? A ruse. The emails with the editor and photographer? Justin. The perfect bed and breakfast I was sent to review? Found by my fiance.

We spent our first night as an engaged couple at a delicious seafood restaurant and our first full day exploring Pigeon Forge with Matt and Sarah, who had helped set up the proposal. We drove home with our wedding planning book open on my lap, talking and planning and brainstorming.

We're so happy you're here to share this with us. :)

#SoontobeSanderfer