Logan's Point of View: Riley and I met at a mutual friend's graduation party. We exchanged a simple "Hey, how are you?" and made small talk, but ultimately left the party having no meaningful conversation. We graduated nursing school the same year and both took jobs at McLeod in the ICU, Riley working at Loris and myself at Seacoast. We reconnected a few weeks later after being placed in the same nurse residency program. As the class progressed, we noticed the mutual interest we shared and exchanged numbers. We talked for a few weeks, and Riley finally asked me to go to dinner with him. It was the most perfect first date. We ate dinner at Hop N Wich in Conway, SC, and shared lots of laughter and meaningful conversation. We talked the entire ride there and back; there was absolutely no awkward silence. It was an amazing night! The next weekend, we were going on our second date and were both falling more and more for each other. After a few weeks of going on dates, Riley invited me to meet his family for sunday dinner at his meme, Shirley's, house - she's an amazing cook and we go there together every Sunday now! Before I would agree to go, I made him confirm our status of officially being boyfriend and girlfriend (April 2, 2023). This is something we often joke about. I like to say "Aren't you glad I asked you to be my boyfriend?" He is adamant that he was going to ask me that same day, but he was just too slow for my liking. After we officially started dating, I knew very soon that he would be my husband some day. Loving Riley is the easiest thing I have ever done. I knew he was the man I had been praying for my entire life, and I am so grateful I have the privilege of spending forever with him.

Our Engagement

Riley’s Point of View: I knew after the first few dates with Logan she would be my wife. Being the logical person that I am, I never thought I would be one to propose to someone so quickly, regardless how certain I was; but God has a way of changing things. September of 2023 I lost my grandpa Bill, the backbone of our family. During that time Logan was with me every second of every day and her presence brought me so much comfort and peace. I knew I never wanted to go through another one of life’s battles without her by my side. I still didn’t have any plans of proposal but in the weeks to come the Lord dealt with me constantly. Everywhere I looked I seen engagement rings! After a couple short weeks of praying and seeking out God’s will for us, I began searching for rings. I already had the perfect ring for Logan designed in my head, but it took me several days and nights to finally find it! As soon as I got my hands on it, I had to take it to her mother’s house to show her and ask her blessing. Her mother had the biggest smile on her face and tears of joy streamed down her sister, Hayley’s, face. Apparently it was no surprise to them, nor was it a surprise to my family. Everyone knew that we were right for each other just as soon as we did. Over the next week I planned out each detail to the best of my ability. I was so nervous about things not going as I had planned that I had hiccups for the entire week! The day I chose to pop the question was Saturday October 28th, 2023. The same day my parents had got engaged 22 years prior. On this day Logan had scheduled for us to have pictures taken in Conway, SC which worked to my advantage because we would already be dressed nice, coincidentally in what would become our wedding colors (blue and white). After our photo session we had lunch at Hop N’ Wich, where we had our very first date. While we were there, a Kay Jewelers commercial came on the television advertising a sale on diamond rings. Logan brought it to my attention jokingly and we laughed a minute. She had no clue she would be getting her diamond ring later that day. I told her I had a special date planned for us and I wouldn’t tell her where we were going. She thought we were going to the movies to see the Taylor Swift Eras Tour (which I would never do) until I pulled into the airport where we would fly a small Cessna airplane along the North Carolina coast. Logan had the opportunity to fly the plane herself, living out one of her lifelong dreams! Most of you know that I love the beach and lighthouses. After the plane landed we drove to the Oak Island Lighthouse where Logan thought we were just having a Bible study on the beach, but at the end of the Bible study I pulled out at lighthouse-shaped trinket box, which housed the ring. After Logan said yes, some of our family came out of the sand dunes where they had been hiding and we got several pictures before enjoying a seafood dinner in Southport, NC. To say I’m excited to marry my best friend would be an understatement.