Our love story was crazy from the beginning!

It all started on the night of August 10, 2019. I was out and about with some girl friends, and we started the night with some cocktails at the Hyatt Hotel Rooftop Bar in Knoxville, TN. After we left, we were walking down Gay Street in front of Downtown Grill and Brewery, when one of the girls disappeared for a second.

"Where's Natali?" I said. We turned around to see her speaking to a group of guys that she knew from high school.

"Who's THAT guy?" and nudged at my friend. Unbeknownst to me, that guy was Taylor and he noticed me too at the exact same moment. "Who's THAT girl?"

Our group of girls went to Southbound in the Old City, and Taylor and his group of guys were planning on going there as well. When we were inside, Natali grabbed me by the hand. "My friend said he really wants to meet you. He thinks you're really beautiful."

"Which friend?" Taylor had at least 10 guys with him that night for Stetson's birthday.

"The tall one!" said Natali.

"They're all tall!" I said.

She walked me to the other said of the room and placed me in front of Taylor. In my mind, I was like "score!!"

After being introduced and talking for a little bit, some of my friends wanted to pop into the bar next door. I left but after some time, decided to come back to Southbound knowing Taylor was still there. After we were settled in at the back, I saw Jenise, a new friend I met that night that also knew Taylor.

"There you are! Come with me." She grabbed my hand and dragged me to the other side of the room again, and placed me in front of Taylor. With a big smile on his face, Taylor said "Hey again."

It all started here. I had a solo trip planned in two weeks to Hawai'i.

"Do you want to come to Hawai'i with me?"

"Yes!" Taylor said.

We had our first official date three days later at Conner's. Then off we went on August 30, 2019 for a nine day trip to Oahu, Hawai'i.

Fast forward three years, we went to Thailand and Vietnam for vacation with my family. On my birthday, Taylor said that we were going to listen to live music on the beach before we go to dinner. I said “who’s playing?” His only reply was, “I’m not sure!” Taylor had spent the last few days planning the proposal and speaking to the concierge to arrange a photographer for our engagement. When we were walking to the beach, I remember thinking “there’s no way he’s going to propose. His jeans are way too tight to fit a ring box!“ and it didn’t even cross my mind that he could just slip the ring in his pocket, so when he got down on one knee, I was completely surprised! It is truly special to me that he decided to propose in the country I was born. Kudos to him for also not losing the ring while traveling halfway across the world!

Yes, we are crazy! But we were crazy for each other from the start.