It all started with a dinner date and a casual conversation between friends. One evening, my girlfriend mentioned she knew the perfect guy for me—Tim LaFever. Naturally, I was intrigued, so that very night, I found him on Instagram. First impression? Handsome, to say the least. We began following each other, but little did I know that was just the beginning.

Fast forward a couple of months, and we matched on a dating app. We went on our first date shortly after, but after a few dates, we both realized we weren’t quite ready for a relationship, so we decided to remain friends.

Then, 10 months later, I found myself thinking about Tim. He had been on my mind recently, and I found myself praying to God: If I’m still thinking about him tomorrow, I’ll reach out. Well, the next day came, and I was still thinking about him, but I was too nervous to make the first move.

The following day, I met up with a girlfriend for Mexican and margaritas. Liquid courage kicked in, and I decided to finally text Tim and see how he had been. But, when I got home, I was still second-guessing myself so I asked my friend, to send the message asking him out to catch up. She did, and, to my relief, Tim agreed to meet up for drinks.

Our "last first date" was at West Fork Whiskey, and from that moment on, everything changed. The rest, as they say, is history.

It all started with a simple follow request on social media. I didn’t know her at the time, but something about her caught my eye. She was beautiful, and I figured, why not add her even if I didn’t know her at the time. Little did I know, that small decision would set the stage for something much bigger.

Months later, I was swiping through a dating app and recognized her profile. We matched and I immediately recognized the girl that added me some time before. This girl I didn’t know quickly became someone that I wanted to go on a date with and get to know better. We went on multiple dates but sometimes, even when things seem right, timing has its own plans. Life took us in different directions, and we parted ways, but there was no hard feeling, just a mutual understanding that maybe the timing wasn’t quite right yet.

Then, months later, out of nowhere, I get a message from her. It felt like the timing was a little too perfect, and in that moment, I knew it was a sign. I had grown and I was in a better place in life to give this beautiful girl my full attention. She asked if I wanted to grab drinks and catch up, and I didn’t hesitate. We met for drinks, and we talked for hours without even realizing it. The conversation was easy, comfortable, like we’d never missed a beat. Walking away that night, I couldn’t help but think, I can’t wait to see her again. Looking back now, I call that night our last first date. It was the moment everything started to fall into place. I truly believe everything happens for a reason, and that God’s timing is always perfect. That night was the beginning of something special, and now, here we are, looking ahead to a future I can’t wait to share with her. She is my partner, my best friend, the one I want to do life with.

In the heart of Fort Myers, surrounded by memories and family, Tim and I had the most unforgettable moment of our lives. Fort Myers holds a special place in Tim’s heart, as it’s where his grandpa lived, and the memories he has of fishing there and spending time with his family. It was the perfect place for us to start the next chapter of our journey together.

From the beginning of our relationship, Tim shared how much he wished I could have met his grandpa, and little did I know, this place would become even more meaningful for us. It was there, in the quiet intimacy of our cottage, that Tim had something incredible planned, though I had no idea.

We had just checked in and were unpacking, when I asked him which side of the bed he wanted. Tim didn’t answer right away, and the silence felt a little odd, so I turned around—only to find him on one knee. My heart stopped.

Tim opened the ring box and told me he couldn’t wait any longer. He asked me to spend the rest of our lives together. Without hesitation, I said, "Yes!" Tears flowed as I realized the magnitude of what was happening, and we shared that moment in pure joy and excitement, just the two of us, for about half an hour before I couldn’t wait any longer to share the news.

I immediately FaceTimed my mom and dad and we basked in the excitement. After a bit, we finally got ready and headed to meet Tim’s parents. When I walked into the restaurant and placed my hand on the table, they saw the ring, and there were tears and hugs all around.

The rest of the weekend was filled with celebration—soaking in our engagement and even meeting up with friends in Florida to share the news with them in person. It was everything we could have hoped for and more, and it was the perfect way to begin our journey toward forever.