In late 2019, Tegan decided to try her hand at the online world of dating. Upon a few swipes, she came across a photo of Jake. They talked for a while and decided to meet after she got off work one night. Their first real date happened all because Jake’s friends were all going to see a concert, and Jake wasn’t going to go because everyone else was a couple. Quickly Tegan said, “That’s crazy. Do you like the group? Then let’s go!!”
A few days later, Jake drove Tegan over 3 hours to Nashville, only the second time she’d remembered ever being in that city, to see Bastille in concert. She knew when he fed her and wouldn’t let her pay him back for the tickets OR the chicken nuggets, he was a pretty great guy.
About two years into their relationship, everyone Jake had come to Knoxville to go to school with were moving back home (or starting their own lives), so he and Tegan decided that they should move in together. They lived together in Knoxville for a year, and when Jake finished school, he decided that he wanted to go back to middle Tennessee to be with his family and friends. This left Tegan with a choice: Stay with her own family and friends, and the city she knew- or begin a brand new adventure with the love of her life.
While it was a hard decision, one thing she was absolutely sure of was Jake. She knew he’d support her and do everything he could to make her feel comfortable. So off they went to Nashville.
Finally, after three (total) years, the time came. Jake and Tegan began very seriously discussing marriage. Every now and then bringing up who would be in their wedding party, where they’d get married, where they’d live, and what life would be like. Little did Tegan know, during these conversations, Jake had a ring hidden in the next room. So in June 2023, Jake and Tegan, along with their soon to be Best Man and Maid of Honor, went to Lake Malone to visit Jake’s parents at their lake house for the first time that summer. Sitting around a fire with a few of the most important people in their lives, Jake dropped to one knee.
And in true Jake Merryman fashion, he says, “Wanna get married?!”
Tegan was too stunned to speak. Immediately covering her face and beginning to cry, she tried her best to utter the word “yes”. However Jake didn’t hear her.
Then, seemingly out of nowhere, Tegan heard her mother’s voice, “so is that a yes??”
Immediately tears were falling even faster, as Tegan realized that Jake thought of everything. From the perfect location, to the perfectly personalized way of asking, to inviting her parents to attend this special moment. There was absolutely no doubt in her mind, Jake was going to be the most perfect husband for her- and she’d made the right decision from the very moment she first saw his photo.