We met in 2014 through Easley Marching Band. Our moms went to nursing school together so we met and Zack ended up taking me home from practice a few times. We both were dating other people at the time but had secret crushes on each other, though I didn’t speak to him because his truck was too loud and in return he thought I was rude. We never spoke outside of him taking me home and lost connection for a couple years after he graduated.

We reconnected through a mutual friend at the end of June 2017. We went out once as friends, enjoyed our time together, and decided to label it as a date while we were driving home. On July 2nd, 2017 we had a sit down discussion to figure out the pros and cons of a long distance relationship as he was in his sophomore of college and I was going into my senior year of high school. In the end we decided it was something we wanted to pursue, so he asked me to be his girlfriend and of course I said yes, after I jokingly told him no to scare him.

We made it through a tough 6 months long-distance before Zack decided he was going to come home from Winthrop and go to Clemson. He says it was because his goals in life changed, but I say I was one of those goals. I finished out high school and decided I was going to stay local for college as well. We had a fun time visiting Niagara Falls this summer and I thought he was going to propose there.. little did I know that proposal was going to be on hold for a few years! We did tiger band together that fall and were able to do lots of traveling together through band.

In January of 2019 we encountered a huge surprise. We found out we were expecting and it truly felt like the walls were crashing down. So many dreams felt like they were being crushed but we knew we could get through it together. We found out it was a boy and then we were able to connect with our baby and get excited about him. We moved in together when I was about 28 or so weeks pregnant so we could get everything ready in time for baby boys arrival.

October 10, 2019 we welcomed our sweet Wyland into the world. Our world was rocked as we were 19 and 21 trying to figure out how to be parents. To be honest we’re still trying to figure it out, but we take it one day at a time. Looking back at this picture makes me sentimental because if only I knew then what I know now…

One baby turned into two real fast. Our Josie Kate came into the world on June 4, 2021. We thought our world was rocked with Wyland… now we had 2 young kids while both working and going to college. These early years of parenthood tested our relationship, but through it all we stuck together.

May 2022 rolled around and we both graduated from Tri-County Tech. I was working as an RN at Greenville Memorial and he was still trying to find the right job for him. Now he manages Music Maker in Easley while also running his own business, and I’m still at the hospital. To say we were proud to be graduating with great GPA’s and with 2 young children would be an understatement. Thank you to all of our families for helping us get to this point so we could provide a good life for our kids.

In February of 2023 we decided to take a trip to Alaska without the kids. It was a much needed reset for us to get to experience each other not just as mom and dad for a week. Well the week came and went and I was bummed I didn’t get proposed to. We were driving around before our flight home and I teared up as we were driving back down a snowy mountain. I thought if he didn’t do it at the top then he wasn’t doing it at all. Turns out he was surveying all the lookout points on the way up to figure out which one he liked the most. On our last stop we got out and he got on one knee. Of course I cried. My best friend finally asked me to marry him.

September 3rd, 2023 we welcomed our surprise gender baby into the world. Yes do the math.. I was 8 weeks pregnant in Alaska! But here we were 7 months later and our baby GIRL Eliza Claire was here. Wedding planning was put on the back burner as we adjusted to having 3 kids 3 and under.

So here we are. It’s now August of 2024 and we’re getting married in November. We’ve put it off long enough, and now we’re wedding planning on a short timeline. But we’re so excited to finally be married and for our whole family to officially share a last name. See you all soon!