We're Getting Married!

Emily and her best friend, Allie, were at one of their usual spots, Oak Barrel Tavern, in the Avondale neighborhood for happy hour when in walked Heyward with friends. Since these were mutual friends, the group hung out together for the evening. At one point, Emily was singing along (as she usually does) to an Alan Jackson song, when Heyward walked up to say "ain't nothin' wrong with a girl singin' some Alan Jackson". Well, that was it for Emily. The next week, Heyward invited Emily to a 4th of July party. Emily brought a couple of friends with her because she didn't want to seem too eager. Oddly enough, Emily actually knew the people who were hosting the party. Small world. The two clicked and the rest is history. From there, Heyward courted Emily with numerous trips to the country, a lot of laughs and a lot of love.

After a long year without travel, Emily & Heyward were ready to jet set. They booked a trip to Lo De Marcos, Nayarit, Mexico at an amazing eco-retreat called Mar Al Cielo. Heyward, without Emily knowing, packed the ring in his camera bag. Upon their arrival to the retreat, Heyward suggested they check out the beach, so they changed into their bathing suits and hiked the cliff down to the beach. Heyward brought his new fancy camera to take pictures as they strolled the beach, but left the bag on the sand away from the surf. As the tide started to come in, Heyward said he needed to move his bag. Emily was looking towards the ocean and when she turned around, Heyward was holding a seashell with the ring in it. Except, he was trying to make it open like a clam shell and was fumbling with it, forgot to get on his knee, asked Emily to marry him, she said yes (obviously, or you wouldn't be reading this) and then he got on his knee and asked again (she said yes again). After the proposal, they hiked back up the cliff, popped a bottle of Veuve and had the most delicious dinner at the palapa overlooking the ocean. It was magical.