February 9th, 2017
Newley was scrolling through his feed on instagram (a social media app used to share pictures) and stumbled across Joe's profile. Newley decided to 'Follow' Joe. Joe looked at his 'New Followers' and saw this handsome guy and thought, "He must live a thousand miles away!" But Joe decided to send the first message he ever sent on Instagram to Newley. It was fate.

At the time, Joe covered North Texas through his sale job. Although Newley didn't live a thousand miles away, he still lived a couple hours away in a little town called Henrietta. Joe asked Newley out on February 15th, claiming he had business in the area. Newley chose a place called Ganache. It was know in town for its cupcakes. Which for those who know Newley, it was the perfect spot for a sweet first date.

Coming from the Kartak Ranch of South Dakota, it was only appropriate that Newley asked Joe out just a few days later on February 19 to The American rodeo. A week later on February 25th, they decided on their 3rd date to visit the Fort Worth Stockyards. Three dates in, Newley was the perfect gentleman that Joe was picturing spending his life with.

May 25th, 2017
Skip forward a few months, Joe asked Newley to vacation on a cruise with a bunch of high school and college friends. On May 25th 2017, they were staying with the Shapiros at their beach condo. That evening, Joe asked Newley if he'd like to take a walk to the water. On the beach, Joe asked Newley if he would like to "go steady". Newley said yes :)

Newley and Joe took turns taking the long drive to visit each other for many months. In September of 2017, Joe purchased a duplex in Irving, TX. Joe and his sister, Elise, moved in. Newley and his dog, Brute, "officially" moved in the following year in March. Presley, Joe's sister's doggy, finally had a companion and our family was forming.

December 15th, 2018
Joe asked Newley to look at some Christmas lights on the houses in the upscale neighborhood, Highland Park of Dallas. As they drove by Lakeside Park, Newley asked, "What park is that?" Little did he know, Joe was there hours early with Elise, planning out the proposal.

Months earlier, Joe asked his dad to have a couple rings made in Venezuela. Joe's Dad had his friend, Jorge Centeno, create two custom white gold rings for our big day.

As the sun was setting over the giant teddy bear statues and little lake of Lakeside Park, Joe asked Newley to spend the rest of his life with him. Elise and Dr. Thaddeus join them for a reservation at the Reunion Tower for a celebratory dinner over looking downtown Dallas. The entire night, Newley had a grin from ear to ear, that Joe will remember for the rest of his life...