On January 5, 2023, Nicholas and I had planned to meet for music bingo at a local bar downtown. I arrived early, only to find—to my surprise—that the bar was closed. I tried calling Nick, but he was still at work and didn’t answer. Sitting alone in an empty parking lot, I started to wonder if this was a bad idea. Still, something told me to wait. A few minutes later, Nicholas pulled up and blocked my car in (unintentionally -Nick). At this point, we had never met in person, only spoken over the phone. As he walked up to my window, a small, irrational thought crossed my mind: What if he’s a serial killer? (Spoiler: I wasn’t -Nick). Jokes aside, we quickly changed plans and headed to a nearby restaurant for dinner. From the moment we sat down, the conversation flowed effortlessly. What felt like mere minutes turned into hours, and by the end of the night, I knew—I had a real connection with Nicholas.

After our first date, we spent every free moment talking. Nicholas was incredibly sweet—he called me every night after work so we could chat during his drive home. Our conversations turned into more dates, and those dates blossomed into something truly special. Together, we explored breweries, wineries, the beach, the mountains, and even ventured to Mexico. But in the end, it never really mattered where we were or what we were doing—being together was always enough.

Fast forward to November 3, 2024—Nicholas and I spent the day at the breathtaking Raffaldini Vineyard, nestled in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina. I had no idea that Nicholas had something special planned. As we wandered through the vineyards, taking in the scenery, the moment I never expected suddenly happened. Nicholas got down on one knee, and in an instant, my life changed forever. Completely shocked yet overwhelmed with joy, I made the easiest decision of my life—I said “yes.”

Now, as we begin this next chapter as husband and wife, we are filled with excitement and gratitude. Surrounded by the people who mean the most to us, we can’t wait to celebrate and share this unforgettable moment with you!