What happens when a southern boy meets a Midwest girl? For Cason Best and Sydney Trees, it was the beginning of a love story they never saw coming.

Cason, born and raised in Austin, Texas, was home for the summer from college when he crossed paths with Sydney, a Minnesota girl who had just moved to the South for her first job at Brentwood Christian School. Thanks to Sydney's aunt, uncle, cousins, and grandparents, who were all deeply involved in the Brentwood community, she was introduced to the Best family. Cason happened to be a good friend of Sydney’s cousin Evan, setting the stage for their fateful meeting.

It all began with a casual lunch with Sydney’s family and Cason, but things truly heated up at a Fourth of July party. The two of them found themselves in a friendly but fierce game of bags, which quickly turned into what they would both call "competitive bickering"—though anyone watching could see it was really just playful flirting. Still, Sydney wasn’t sure if Cason was someone worth getting to know on a deeper level. So, she turned to her aunt and grandma for advice. When she received the green light, it didn’t take long for Cason to notice a new follow request on his Instagram from none other than “Evan’s hot cousin,” as he’d jokingly refer to her.

Sydney, a little bold and a lot curious, invited Cason to hang out by the pool at her apartment complex. After a first-round rejection—Cason was busy with "Barbie movie plans" with the guys—he quickly asked for a second chance, and Sydney agreed. What followed was three hours of easy conversation, deep talks, and moments that felt like they had known each other forever. By the end of the afternoon, it was clear to both of them: this was something real.

On August 6th, Cason asked Sydney to be his girlfriend, and they embarked on a long-distance relationship that lasted almost a year. Through it all, they built a foundation of love and trust that only grew stronger. Finally, on May 17th, Cason proposed, marking the next chapter in a love story that began with a chance meeting but grew into something destined to last a lifetime.