When people ask us how we met, the technical answer is "Belmont," but from my perspective, it all really started with a whiskey ginger (with lime, of course).

Nathan and I, technically, first met at the front desk in the Kennedy lobby. This was the dorm on where Nathan was living and working as a Resident Assistant. I also worked as an RA at Belmont, although in a different building. Being in ResLife granted me the access to sit behind the front desk at any residence hall on campus, which is precisely what I was doing the first time I met Nathan.

I had heard of him from mutual friends, but when he quietly walked up to me and sat down on the desk, I remember not thinking too much about him. Mostly because he was dating someone else and was very unavailable. After that, I saw Nathan a handful more times, but nothing more.

Flashforward to 2019: we've graduated from Belmont, and Nathan and I have both been asked to be in Zach and Angela's wedding later that fall. And, as luck would have it, we were partnered to walk down the aisle together. I remember feeling so relieved to have a groomsman to chat with. I didn't really know the rest of the guys and Nathan was calm, funny, and thoughtful. And he didn't let me trip down the aisle, which was a plus. Little did I know that this night would be the beginning of so much more.

The dancefloor was packed, ties were loosening, shoes were coming off, and the bar was always busy. It was on one of these trips from the bar to the dancefloor that I decided to shoot my shot with Nathan.

"What are you drinking?" I asked.

"A whiskey ginger!" he said. I was shocked--that's exactly what I was drinking! This guy had good taste.

"Me, too! Have you tried it with a squeeze of lime in it?"

"No, is it good?"

"It's the best. Why don't you give it a try next round and then come find me and tell me what you think?" And he did.

With the party well under way, I kept finding myself next to Nathan on the dancefloor. And after we said our farewells to the newlyweds, we made our way back to the hotel lobby where we talked for what felt like hours. It was as if I had known Nathan my whole life and all I wanted to do was keep the conversation going.

He asked me on our first date the following weekend, which I like to refer to as our "marathon date." Neither one of us wanted it to end so, we went to location after location just to keep the night going. Drinks, dinner, bar, home. All the while laughing and talking about nothing and everything. On our second date, Nathan finally kissed me and when we pulled away from me he asked me to be his girlfriend. I couldn't say "yes" fast enough.

Since then, it's been Nathan and me. Every birthday, anniversary, and relationship milestone has been so easy with him by my side. To be his is to be loved and cherished, and I am so grateful that he chose me and continues to choose me. Getting to call this man my husband feels like the answer to a question I've been asking for years.

I love you, Nathan. Here's to you and me forever.

Just like how our wedding will be in October, Sarah and I began our relationship in the same brisk and calming month back in 2019.

Just about a week prior, we were both a part of our good friend’s Zach and Angela’s wedding. We had been paired together to walk down the aisle, which is where our small talk first started that night. After the ceremony, I would continue to find my way to Sarah, either by walking over to her, or dancing to her, I had a lot of options. We really hit it off that night and after the wedding we talked for many hours in the hotel the wedding party and many others were staying at.

After what was a great weekend, I simply just didn’t ask for Sarah’s number or contact at all. Why? I honestly don’t have an answer for you and I wish I did. BUT! I got it together pretty quickly, and in the following week I had DMed her on Instagram (my only option of contact). I asked if she’d wanna go grab a beer or dinner, we ended up doing both, and even ended up going to Santa’s to see the house band (My first time there too!). It was an incredible first date, so much so, that after our second date, I was like hey… are you like my girlfriend now? Even with a meek delivery, she was in!

Now we’re getting married, and I couldn’t be more excited to get to this point. It’s truly felt like Sarah has been a part of my life for far, far longer. Sarah means the world to me, and I can’t wait to have her in my life forever!