Like so many modern love stories, ours began with a simple swipe right on Tinder — and a message from Colton asking the most important question of all: “Okay… so how do I say your name?” That first conversation turned into plans to meet, and even though he lived on base, I wasn’t about to end up in the Army’s guest database. So the boys — Colton and his roommate Arthur — had to pick me up at a Taco Bell.
From the moment we met, I thought he was so damn cute and funny, and all I wanted was to get to know him better. Colton, on the other hand, was a “nothing serious” kind of guy — someone who didn’t really believe in love… at least not until he met me.
After a trip home to Ohio for the Fourth of July, Colton came back to Louisiana and asked me to be his girlfriend on July 10th. It didn’t take long for me to realize I loved him. I couldn’t explain it — he just felt like home. And he says one day it simply hit him that he loved me too.
As our relationship grew, so did our life together. We moved from Louisiana to Ohio, starting a brand-new chapter surrounded by Colton’s family and the place that already held so many memories for him. Not long after, we bought our first home — a true fixer-upper that we transformed room by room. Between painting walls, ripping out old floors, and learning the hard way that not every DIY project is as easy as it looks online, we created a space that feels completely and perfectly “us.”
Our days have become filled with the things we love most: tackling projects together, cozy movie nights, and life with our two sweet pups, Willow and Maverick. The biggest blessing of all is that our closest friends are really our family — the people who have celebrated each milestone with us.
Colton planned the proposal for our 5-year anniversary at a sunset beach in Lakewood, Ohio. He recruited his cousin Ryan to photograph the moment, who wisely enlisted Joy and Rachel to help create a gorgeous setup of flowers leading to a picnic basket filled with champagne and a congratulations cake. It was perfect — except for the fact that when we walked up, Colton didn’t realize the setup was his, and thought he was interrupting someone else’s proposal.
While he fumbled with the ring box, I didn’t even wait for him to get the words out — I said yes before he could ask. It was the best day ever.
Now, on July 10th, 2027 — our seven-year anniversary — we get to celebrate with all the people who have loved and supported us as we finally say “I do.”
We can’t wait to continue building our home, our family, and our forever.