The Shealy Wedding

We met on a popular dating app (Hinge)! My mom was having fun swiping away when she pointed the phone at me saying, "Ally this one's your type!" Our first date was at Saltwater Cowboys on Shem Creek a few days later. When Grant went to go ask for a table, he was told there was a 2 hour long wait time. And of course, the boy not wanting to change plans, said we had no problem waiting! We went to the bar to order drinks, and he informed me that it was National Margarita Day. Me, not wanting to inform him that I hate margaritas, said I would think about ordering one! Well, he ordered himself a marg, and then looked absolutely horrified when I ordered a Michelob Ultra. (We still laugh about that to this day.) We then talked for about an hour while waiting for a table. At some point I told Grant, "I can talk to a brick wall but even I'm running out of steam here." After that, Grant started to open up and we talked the night away. He was kind and funny, and very good at listening. We discovered that not only did we work at the same hospitals over the years but went to and graduated from the same college. We were both in Greek life. We both had classes in the same buildings at the same times, tailgated in the same spot, and went to the same bars. God had a special plan for us and when our paths were to cross. We are forever grateful they crossed when they did! We finished our dinner that night and went to an Eric Church Concert together only three days later. And that was only the beginning!

Grant and I knew for a while that our engagement was coming; it was only a matter of when. Well, I thought I had truly ruined our engagement when I saw "Ally gets E" written in my mom's appointment book on my birthday (September 4th). The week leading up to September 4th, I got my nails done, picked out a cute dress, made sure everything was in order for the day! So, when Grant asked me if it was okay if we went to dinner with his friends on September 3rd, I wasn't expecting a thing. The plan was that we were going to meet them on the dock and take the boat to dinner. The day of, we laid on the couch, watched some trashy reality Netflix series, and played with Molly. Grant came to me about 30 minutes before we were supposed to meet our friends and informs me that this is a "fancy restaurant". My boat hair and lululemon shorts were not going to cut it, and Grant was getting increasingly frustrated when I couldn't decide on picking out HIS outfit. Grant told me we were running late, so we left, and I had to do my makeup in the car. I was so focused on feeling guilty about making our friends late, that I forgot 1/2 my makeup at the house. The entire way to the dock I was singing the one line of a song I had stuck in my head... "you gotta fast car" over and over. Grant was gripping the steering wheel like it was going to run away, and I thought he had just been upset over us being late. When we arrived at his condo, he RAN upstairs to put on cologne and change belts (also grab the ring and take 2 shots of tequila I have since been told). He then walked me to the dock. I thought I saw something that looked like flowers, but if you know me, then you know that my vision is piss poor at best. I said, "oh that's nice". He responded, "yeah, wonder who it's for? Couldn't be you." At this point we were about 8 feet from the blurry image, and I saw that there were flowers, photos of us, and candles. He turns to me tells me the gushiest, lovey-dovey speech he had written. (He had been practicing all day in the bathroom). He then gets down on one knee and proposes. Shaking so hard the dock is practically vibrating, I manage to say yes through sobs of happy tears. Then suddenly I manage to see a photographer and my family pop out of nowhere! We then left and went to Halls Chophouse where we ate until we physically couldn't put anymore into our bodies. It was the happiest day of my life, and I couldn't have imagined it any other way.