We're getting married!

Eric and I met through mutual friends on St. Patrick’s Day, 2019 at an Irish pub in Atlanta. I guess I had some serious luck of the Irish that day because ever since then I’ve been the happiest girl in the world. Eric was goofy and shy and right after getting out of the car, he told me all about the *fabricated* story he had just told his uber driver about how he was from another state. He had even been faking a northern accent! I vividly remember thinking in that moment “who the heck is this guy?!” So of course, I agreed to another date. I’ll just say that the first interaction with him was a pretty good representation of what I was getting myself into! Every day is a fun adventure with Eric by my side and it only took about two weeks for me to know I didn’t ever want to see my life without him there. There’s absolutely never a dull moment and I am helplessly in love with him. Because he is simply the best. It’s not all sunshine and rainbows but most of it really, truly is. My life so quickly changed when we met that we didn’t ever want to be apart. Early on in our relationship, my dad passed away unexpectedly. My dad was my absolute everything. I can’t put into words the absolute sorrow that I felt after his passing. And it was a big commitment for Eric that early on in our relationship to choose to stand by my family and me through those terribly hard times. But he stepped into the role like he was made for it. He comforted me, brought me joy in times I didn’t think it was possible and he continues to do so every day. I just know him and my dad would be really great friends. And at that moment, I knew Eric was the one I wanted to stand by me through any and every obstacle in life from, there on out. I can’t believe that I get the honor of MARRYING him. I'll spend the rest of my life showing him how much he means to me. As far as I’m concerned, I’m the luckiest girl in the world! A lifetime with him just doesn't seem like long enough, but it's a dang good start!

Let me start by saying there is not a word or phrase out there to describe how I feel about Allison Stephens, and from the moment I met her I just knew. She is different, she is a breath of fresh air, and above all she makes me feel comfortable with who I am. Our story is actually kind of funny but Allison and I ended up meeting one another at Fado’s through some mutual friends. Of course, I was awkward and shy because that is just who I am but if you would’ve seen the way she looked on that day you would’ve understood. She was stunning, friendly, and real. I remember after meeting her that first day I started a continuous note in my phone where I documented every single time we spent together along with the date, because I knew from the second we first interacted that I was going to marry her. Following our meeting at Fado’s she invited me to hangout with her later that day and so I grabbed an uber to go and meet her. The funny part about this is, because I had no idea where I was going and what was going to happen I had made up this elaborate story that I told my uber driver, saying that I was from Philadelphia and was in town to meet some friends. Why I did that, I will never understand but I told Ally about it and she just laughed at me and with me and from there we just clicked. One day, Allison was there, and I will never let the feeling that she brings me go away. I have never been happier, healthier, and more in love in my entire life. Every day I spend with Allison I become a better person, she pushes me to be the best me that I can be and she challenges me constantly. Imagining my life without her is not possible and I always think back to the day we first met, and I am so grateful to god for letting her walk into my life. From our travels, experiences and living together, my love for her has multiplied endlessly. I will never stop trying to impress her and I will always remind her that I have “dibs”.