05.11.24

Kayleigh's Version: Ryne and I grew up only 22 miles apart from one another, yet we didn't meet until we were both students at Clemson University. Now let me clarify- I "knew of" Ryne, but he informed me on our very first date that he didn't "know of" nor had he ever "heard of" me. Ouch! Before the first date took place, we crossed paths a few times, but it all started at the most charming, quaint, dimly-lit... fraternity party! The date was Friday, November 17th, 2017. An easy date to remember, as it's my Dad's birthday! It was our last Friday in Tiger Town before Thanksgiving break and my best-friend Reighley was visiting for the weekend. We got ready for a night out as any college girl would in 2017 - listening to Closer by the Chainsmokers and perfecting our winged eyeliner. Lucky for me, I ran into Ryne- someone that's easy to talk to and easy to laugh with. As the night came to an end, we exchanged numbers, and promised to talk again soon. Reighley and I left the party and made our way to Todaro's Pizza in downtown Clemson. Before we made it to the front of the pizza line, I had already gotten a message from Ryne asking me out on a date! I told Reighley that night that I was going to marry Ryne Huggins! I wasn't surprised when I started to fall for Ryne. He was funny, kind, adventurous, and it didn't hurt that he looked great in a baseball uniform! Ryne asked me to be his girlfriend on January 17th, 2018. An easy date to remember, as it's Ryne's birthday! The weeks turned into months and months turned into years. From 2018-2020, our years together were filled with countless moped rides to class, baseball and football games, beach trips, and sorority functions. From 2020-2022, we took on long-distance when Ryne moved to Texas for graduate school. Nevertheless, our years were still filled with beach trips and baseball games- but a lot more facetime calls and airport goodbyes. Over the last year, we have endured lots of change as a couple. Changing jobs, changing homes, changing cities, but my favorite change so far- has been the change from girlfriend to fiancé! I was in total shock when Ryne proposed in Jackson Hole this past December in front of his sweet family! We are excited to celebrate becoming husband and wife in a place that is so special to us surrounded by family and friends. I knew it back in 2017, but it's a proven fact now- I am going to marry Ryne Huggins!! :) Ryne's Version: Kayleigh and I first met at Clemson through a brief run in at a party. I learned that Kayleigh was recently single, so I took my chance and asked for her number! Over the course of the next few weeks, we got to know one another and I asked her out on a date. Our first date was a Moe's lunch before we both went home for Thanksgiving break, and we hit it off! We started seeing each other more and more over the course of the next few months, and eventually we found ourselves doing everything together. After months of walking to class together, countless meals together, and introducing our friends to one another, we finally decided to make it official! On my 20th birthday, I asked Kayleigh to officially be my girlfriend, and the rest is history! Our (almost) 6 years together has seen its fair share of new and unique circumstances; plenty of distance, new jobs, and constantly changing locations, but we have gotten through it all- only become stronger in the process. One thing that has never changed is the love that we have for one other. Whether it was a flight to Texas or a long drive to the middle of nowhere in Georgia, we have always made the distance work, and we’ve created some great memories along the way! Now, we get to commit ourselves to one another for the rest of our lives, in a place that holds such a special place in both of our hearts. I can’t wait to see what adventures are in store for us next.