The couple decided to move in together about six months after they reconnected, but Sarah's school contract wasn't finished until May of 2023, which meant waiting five more months before they could relocate. They rented a house in New Braunfels, TX, a place filled with newly made memories as a couple. Their first date was in neighboring Gruene, and they often took trips there when Sarah was visiting San Antonio.

Their new house quickly became a home as they settled in and decorated. The prominent feature of their new living room became a record wall, a display of their favorite vinyl albums surrounding a stand with the record player Carl got Sarah on their first Christmas as a couple. After work, they enjoy putting a record on and listening to the likes of Jim Croce, John Denver, Joan Baez, and Vampire Weekend.

Carlton and Sarah discussed getting married and began the planning process -- even though they never actually got engaged! They knew they wanted to be married, so the "proposal" part seemed less important than the "marriage" part. They weren't exactly "sticking to the script" as it were.

One night in July, right before Carlton was scheduled to go to California on business, he got a call saying that he no longer had to travel to the West Coast. Since he had already taken the time off of work, Sarah wondered aloud what they ought to do with the day he had off.

"We could go get married." Carlton said. Sarah enthusiastically agreed.

Unfortunately for the couple, they did not know much about Texas marriage law and in their hubris assumed they could do it the very next day. After filling out a marriage license application and picking it up at the Guadalupe County Clerk's Office, they realized they had to wait 72 hours (damn!). But, they had waited 13 years after meeting for this, so what was three more days?

Sarah used her skills as an event planner to quickly throw together a romantic elopement at Landa Park in New Braunfels. She excitedly called her mom and asked her if she could fly out for the ceremony; Carl called his parents and told them the good news -- Penny and Scott played celebratory music over the phone, and Carl and Sarah could practically hear them jumping for joy.

Sarah became Mrs. Carlton Warnberg on a sunny afternoon on Saturday, August 5, 2023. Their parents, Carlton's sister Rebecca, and a few of their close friends were in attendance. Sarah made her own wedding cake for the reception at their home in New Braunfels.

The couple is excited to share the joy of their marriage with all of their friends and family with a second ceremony in Biloxi, MS in Summer 2024.

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