Clay's version: We first met at the LSU v. McNeese football game in Baton Rouge in 2015. Then we officially met up at OB's (a local LC bar) a couple weeks later and the rest is history.

Mattie's version (which is much longer, no surprise): Flashback to fall of 2014: My friend (& bridesmaid) Kelli had texted me that I should go follow this guy on Instagram and message him. She told me his name was Clay Brast and gave me his Instagram handle. I looked it up and he was private, so I did not follow him lol. A couple texts go back and forth of me saying "no, that is weird" and her saying "no it's not." Then, I get a text from her saying that Clay had her phone and it was him all along. Super embarrassing, haha. Nothing really happened after that and I never met him until a year later.....Fast forward to September 2015 at the football game Clay mentioned above. We were walking around tailgating and Kelli saw some people she knew from McNeese. We walked over there and Clay happened to be in that group. We didn't stay and chat long, but I do remember Clay and I awkwardly hugging while I was introduced to everyone. I must have made an impression though because once we got back to Lake Charles, Clay had asked Kelli to set us up. He asked her persistently, for two weeks! So I agreed to meet him and I went to OBs with my friends, waiting to meet Clay. I remember Kelli was still the messenger that night; she would text Clay and I separately, letting us know what we were wearing and when each other arrived lol! We ended up talking the whole night and every day since. On November 1, 2015 Clay surprised me with a date night and officially asked me to be his girlfriend!

Clay and I decided to go to Mexico for my spring break in March. We had been before and we loved Cancun! It was a last minute decision, since you know, Covid and everything. Clay had the ring in his carry on backpack for 3 days while we were there and I had no clue! On Wednesday, March 17th Clay called room service breakfast while I went and got fresh beach towels to put on chairs by the beach. If you know me, then you know breakfast (specifically pancakes) is my favorite meal ever. When I came back to the room, he had already set up breakfast out on the balcony. When I opened the lid to my plate, there was my dream ring! I got to say "YES!" to my favorite person in the most beautiful place!