Ryan and Tori’s story goes all the way back to when Ryan’s two younger sisters and Tori would play while their moms worked at the YMCA daycare together. Having both grown up in the Ballantyne/Charlotte area, Tori and Ryan ended up at the same middle school and high school. Tori was good friends with Ryan’s sister, Abby, and they played volleyball together through the years. However, Ryan and Tori never really crossed paths and only knew of each other.

College and a few years after went by. Tori moved from Wilmington to Raleigh in 2019 to be closer to her sister and friends. Two years later, Ryan moved from Atlanta to Raleigh to be closer to family. In 2021, Tori ran into Abby and found out she lived in Raleigh. In the summer of 2022, they decided to play together on a sand volleyball rec league.

The last game of the season, Ryan texted his sister to see if she wanted to hangout and she told him to come watch her volleyball game. Tori felt a push when she saw Ryan for the first time and uncharacteristically, she struck up conversation with him in between sets. Before everyone went to Chick-fil-a after the game, Ryan told his sister he thought Tori was cute. The matchmaking began! After another rec volleyball game later that season, they all went to La Carreta Mexican Restaurant in Raleigh. Ryan and Tori both got 20oz margaritas and after they both safely got home, Ryan asked for Tori’s number over an Instagram message.

Both of them said that they weren’t ready for another relationship yet, but God had other plans. The dates went well and after a month Tori casually asked him to go with her on her trip to Colorado, to which he said yes!

On November 6th, 2022, on top of Chief Mountain Summit, Ryan asked Tori to be his girlfriend. Over the next year and a half, Tori and Ryan grew in their relationship with God and with each other. They fell in love over their common interests like working out, dogs, and having a close family, but also over their differences. Tori compliments Ryan’s weaknesses and Ryan does the same for her. They realized that they could serve God better together than individually. Ryan proposed on March 30, 2024, at one of their favorite places, Lake Crabtree, during a sunset. They are so excited for their future together.

They’re getting married at The Oaks at Salem on May 2, 2025, and can’t wait to see all of you there!!

V&R

Wedding Day

Ceremony

Reception