The first time I laid eyes on Courtney, it was at Miss Kelli’s Karaoke Bar in Printer’s Alley following the Iris Ball in 2019. She was talking to someone I knew, and I went over to that guy and said hello, introduced myself to Courtney, and then went about the night. However, I remember her being cute. So sometime later, I friended her on Instagram (in a totally non-weird way). We were then Instagram acquaintances for 4 years. Occasionally there would be dialogue via messages but nothing major. I quickly realized that we had a ton in common just seeing the stuff she posted (playing golf, cooking, and especially spiritual posts). But I knew she was in NYC and the DC, so nothing ever came of it. Fast forward to 2023 when I noticed that Courtney started posting some stuff from Nashville, and I sent her a message like “Are you back??” She told me yes, she had moved back in March and I, while several beers deep at one of my college buddy’s wedding, decided I’d see if she wanted to get dinner. Our first date that she wasn’t sure was a date was a ticketed event to an opening party at Central BBQ in Hillsboro Village. Hungry as Buck (my food Instagram – yea, a lot of IG references) had been invited to attend. I said, what the heck, I’ll see if she wants to go to this – it’ll be casual, and maybe she could benefit from meeting someone there since she was working on her PR business! We had a great time and quickly hung out a couple more times – one of them being a quick 6 holes at Legends Club, where Courtney had a legitimate par! I thought to myself at that moment… “OK… this girl is awesome!” As things went on, we both realized that we saw real potential here but needed some time to figure some things out on our own, so Courtney and I went on a little mutually-agreed-upon hiatus (turns out, emphasis on “little”). We both agreed if it still made sense later and we wanted to circle back, we’d do so. A whopping 39 days later, I reached out again, and we have basically talked or hung out every day since!

I first met Buck at Ms. Kelli’s Karaoke Bar after the Iris Ball in 2019. My girlfriends and I had gone to the charity event together, and toward the end of the night, I got caught up chatting with a coworker just long enough for all my friends to slip out and head to the bars without me. By the time I realized I’d been abandoned (a classic Taylor Padgett move), my coworker convinced me to come to Ms. Kelli’s for “one drink” because apparently, that’s where everyone ended up. The second I walked in, though, I knew I was done. I had reached my limit and I was ready to call it a night. One more drink would either lead to me singing Shania Twain or calling an uber – thankfully I chose the latter. But before I could escape, in swoops Buck, introducing himself like it was fate — or maybe just good timing. Our conversation was short and sweet, and within 20 minutes, I had called an Uber and gone home. The next morning, I woke up with a headache and a vague memory of some very cute guy I had met. “I hope I run into him again,” I thought. Little did I know, Buck was already on the case. Within days, I got a friend request from him — social media detective work at its finest. What followed was a slow burn of mutual photo liking and the occasional DM reply, but nothing serious came from it. Fast forward a year, and I had packed up and moved to NYC, then DC, chasing career dreams and city life. After a few years away, something pulled me back to Nashville, though at the time, I had no idea why. Two months in, my phone lights up… a DM from Buck. Casual. Friendly. Testing the waters. He asks if I had moved back, and after some light banter about the drama with the local coffee shop I had been calling my “office”, he drops a very late Friday night invite to an event at Central BBQ for the following week. His reasoning? “It could be good for your PR business.” My first thought… Is this a date? Either way, I accepted. If nothing else, I figured I’d get some good BBQ and maybe a solid networking opportunity. But by that point, I had already pieced together from his posts over the years that we had a lot in common – and most important to me, our faith. Sure enough, we hit it off right away and I instantly knew that there could be something very real here. He was handsome, and kind, and if felt so natural. We went on a few dates, but life still needed sorting out, so we took our time. I found peace in knowing that I was right where I was supposed to be and soon to be ready for the right person to come into my life. Well, that whole “let’s just see what happens” mindset didn’t last long (39 days in fact), because on my 30th birthday, Buck reached back out. And from that moment on, we haven’t looked back. It wasn’t an instant whirlwind romance, but rather a gradual build. Sunday after Sunday, we were just a few rows apart sitting in church — living separate lives but unknowingly sharing the same space. Looking back, it’s wild to think about all the times we crossed paths without even realizing it. But that’s the beauty of timing — when it’s right, it all falls into place. From chance encounters to years of near misses, it’s clear that the Lord had a plan for us all along. Buck is the kind of man that is worth waiting for. He is my steady place, my biggest encourager, and the person who makes even the most ordinary moments feel special (an eternal optimist through and through!). I can’t wait for him to be my husband and to spend forever by his side! Here’s to finding more joy in the journey and faith in the foundation!

When it eventually came time to propose – I knew I wanted to do it some time around Christmas or New Years and I had told her that, so she knew something might be coming but not exactly when. On December 28th, we went for a customary walk at Percy Warner Park (even though we usually walk the 5.8 loop on Sundays, and this was a Saturday). Originally, I wanted to ask her at the end of the walk at the top of these beautiful stairs, and I had already secured a photographer to be hiding to take some pics. Well, I found out from some allies that whenever it did happen, Courtney would want to be looking cute (not in walking clothes). I was afraid of that. My plan needed mending! So, we decided that we would go for a walk, go home and shower and change, and then I’d get us a reservation for a late lunch at Roze Pony in Belle Meade at 3pm. But I needed an excuse to go back to the steps – so at the end of our walk, at the top of the steps, I laid down on a wall just to rest for a bit. Courtney even has a picture of me laying down, which is wild! Then my phone fell out of my pocket. This was all part of the plan. I grabbed it and got up and we went home and got ready. As I’m getting ready to leave for Roze Pony, I told Courtney “We have a problem. I can’t find my wallet anywhere!” I looked in my pants and all over my place. I said, “it’s fine, I probably left it in your car.” We got to the car…. Nope. Not there either. So, Courtney now thinks she’s paying for lunch, but I had better plans. I convinced her we needed to go back to the steps to look for it because “I bet it fell out of my pocket when my cellphone did, and I just didn’t notice it!” It was a very believable story. We got to the steps, she willingly agreed to help me look for the wallet, and as we were walking up the steps, I noticed that a family was taking pictures right where I wanted to be. So, I had to stall…. We looked and looked for this wallet until that family was gone, and to no avail. So, we headed back down the steps and I stopped on the spot where I wanted to be, looked at Courtney, and said “I have a confession…” She looked at me, “OK.. what”. I reached into my pocket and pulled out my wallet and said, “I’ve had this the whole time”. And in customary Courtney fashion, she just smiled and poked me with her finger and said “well, then why’d you bring me here!” I told her it was because I had something I wanted to ask her, and that I had a little speech prepared but in the heat of the moment, there was no way I was going to remember what to say (or maybe that she would remember it either!), so I got down on a knee, pulled out the box from my other pocket, and said “Courtney, I love you. Will you marry me?” She of course immediately teared up, hands clasped over mouth and said “of course!” and our photographer was right on cue and captured the moment brilliantly. I am so thankful for Courtney. Who she is; who she comes from; her beliefs and values; her giggle and those blue eyes. She is beautiful inside and out, and I cannot wait for her to be my wife! We look forward to having you all help celebrate in Nashville with us! Let’s get the party started! #PattonPending