Hobie and Paige first met on the very first night of their freshman year of college at UNC Charlotte. It was a warm breezy night on August 18th, 2011, when they stumbled upon each other at a Luau-themed freshman mixer next to the Student Union. Both were coyly accompanied by their roommates, trying to force themselves to make friends, and after few awkward waves and “hello”s the two groups finally stopped to talk to each other in a nondescript patch of dirt that was somewhat out of place in the middle of the brick courtyard. They spent the night talking, and walking around campus, and after exchanging info, they went their separate ways. The very next morning, Hobie got a text from Paige asking to hang out again, to which he joyfully accepted. From there, a beautiful friendship blossomed rapidly over the next semester, and after most of the school year had passed, Hobie finally got the courage to ask Paige to officially be his girlfriend with a chintzy necklace, and a cheesy song. Paige, naturally, said yes.

Although they had a few significant hurdles and speedbumps along the way (as every proper relationship is prone to provide), their love has only gotten stronger and stronger with every passing day and every passing challenge. Hobie and Paige love each other so much that they have even worked the same job together, twice! And finally, after 5 years (and no small amount of prodding), Hobie decided to pop the question under the beautiful winter night sky among the stars of the colorful skyline of Uptown Charlotte on December 29th, 2017. As I'm sure you already guessed, Paige said "YES!" (and she also said "About time!").

You don’t need a storyteller to tell that Hobie and Paige’s story is a fairytale love affair, but fate decided to seal the deal just in case: years after their love story began on that very nondescript patch of dirt in the brick courtyard, a statue was erected. A statue of a young man and woman climbing a spiral staircase, reaching together towards new heights and an ever brighter future. Here’s to the Helbichs! Cheers!