One fateful day in a freshman Intro to Old Testament course at Belmont University, Alyssa and Cam were listening to a professor discuss ox killings. As you can imagine, the romantic potency of this topic swept her into his arms, and away they went. No, but that would have made for a better story, huh? In reality, Alyssa approached Cam, who was wearing a band tee of The Oh Hellos. After making friendly conversation about music, they reached the cafeteria outside, only for Cam to impulsively invite Alyssa to see them in Nashville soon. He didn't even have her number or let alone know how to spell her name. Over the next year and a half, they got to know one another and became real friends over coffee hangs and in study groups. Eventually, things got a little blurred, and Cam recognized this "friend" of his was someone he thought was really cute. After a post-spring break hang out, Cam drove Alyssa home and, just as she was leaving, blacked out and said, "Can I blindside you for a second?" before saying something to the degree of "I'm-scared-of-messing-up-this-friendship-but-do-you-want-to-go-on-a-date?" A few mega dates later (our affectionate term for the many hour dates Cam planned from the get-go), and we made it official.

Over the next five years, we lived through the end of college — which included a global pandemic you may have heard of — both of us going through the same graduate counseling program, the discovery of Love Island, and even the birth of TikTok. A lot's happened, guys. A highlight reel of these five years might include 1) Cam's palms sweating, his knees weak, arms heavy as he told Alyssa he loved her in her college house; 2) Music festivals in Chattanooga and our Red Rocks debut; 3) Family intros; 4) Trader Joe's runs and lazy Sunday afternoons; 5) Alyssa eagerly looking at Cam saying, "Can we stay in tonight?" We both had a felt sense that this whole dating this was too good NOT to keep going. We'd heard of this "marriage" idea. We were intrigued.

Things were going good. Cam and Alyssa were talking about marriage. It was getting serious. Serious enough for Cam to lay out a timeline and realize that he needed to "talk" with Alyssa's parents ASAP. So, Cam brings Alyssa's parents to Frothy Monkey and as the check comes he says, "Before we do that...let's talk." Wonder what it was about? Flash forward to October, Cam believes he is being the sneakiest planner around. He tries to pull a fast one on Alyssa by asking their friends John and Katie to pretend to plan a hangout. But, if you know Alyssa, you know she has played Clue one too many times to be fooled but she played along all the way to the day of the "supposed hangout." That day, Cam picks her up and drives to Shelby Bottoms for your run of the mill "pre-dinner picnic where you dress super nice with friends." They walk. Cam struggles to make conversation, besides his super subtle line of "Isn't this the most underrated spot in Nashville?" comment. Alyssa laughs. They get to the spot. Cam says, "John and Katie aren't coming." Alyssa says, "I know." A knee is bent, nice words are said, a "Yes!" is given, and here we are giddily awaiting October 14th with all of you!