Nothing could be finer than a wedding in Carolina.

Flashback to nearly a decade ago as a group of college students sat down to trivia night. It was a Wednesday night in the spring of 2012 when Katie and Tom's mutual friend Christina organized a group to go to trivia at Back Bar at Top of the Hill, a popular spot on Franklin Street. That night is ultimately where this relationship began, but things were slow to start. Tom frequently tried to organize nights to "bump into" Katie out in Chapel Hill that spring. Katie was too focused on an upcoming summer abroad.

It wouldn't be until the following fall when both were back in Chapel Hill that Tom would take Katie on their first official date to Carolina Brewery. The dates haven't stopped since. Katie taught Tom about the love of pugs and the location of the gym. Tom taught Katie strategies for Mario Kart and how to make a budget. The list goes on. Tom discovered he liked to cook. Katie learned the entire history of Carolina Football. For six years, Tom and Katie have enjoyed doing life together highlighted by five collective moves, over 700 total miles of long-distance dating, new jobs and promotions, travel and countless UNC sporting events (including a National Championship - though watched separately). Now, they are finally back to their home state in Charlotte, NC, where they can be found frequenting Carolina athletic events, walking their pug Martin or trying a new restaurant. And after all these years and miles, the two are finally getting hitched!

If Auburn hadn't knocked the Tar Heels out of the NCAA Tournament in 2019, that first Saturday in April might have looked a little different for these Carolina fans. Despite the Tar Heels not playing in the Final Four that weekend, Tom still had plans for a getaway to Chapel Hill. Katie thought she'd be spending a few days visiting Tom in Charlotte, so a surprise stay at the Carolina Inn might have made her a bit suspicious. The trip, for the most part, was much like any weekend the two would spend in their college town. They had dinner at Top of the Hill, grabbed drinks at Bob's, and walked around Franklin Street. That Saturday, Tom requested a visit to the newly revamped Carolina Basketball Museum. Following the visit, the two made the walk back to Franklin Street through campus, a normal activity when returning to their alma mater. However, Tom decided this walk would be a bit more special. He requested to cut through the lower quad, dropped to one knee, and popped the question right at the university seal in front of the South Building, one of the central buildings on campus. As you now know, Katie said "yes!" Tom and Katie went to celebrate for lunch at Top of the Hill, where Tom had arranged a surprise visit from many of their friends and family. They enjoyed celebrating the rest of the day and look forward to having everyone back in Chapel Hill for the biggest celebration of all in July 2021!