We’ve known each other for quite a while now (half our lifetime currently!). In August, we were celebrating our seven year anniversary in Charleston. We spent the day walking around the South Carolina Aquarium (which I was so excited about leading up to the trip). By the time we left, it was storming and all I wanted to do was get to the car safely. After a nice fancy dinner together, Josh had the idea to go out to Waterfront Park. All day we had reminisced about old memories, going all the way back to middle school when we first met. Walking around Waterfront Park, we talked everything we've experienced together. From middle and high school, to college, to traveling the world together. We finally sat by the pineapple fountain and reminisced about the night seven years ago when Josh asked me to be his girlfriend (and how nervous he was). He told me while he was certainly nervous that night, it didn't compare to how he had felt all day. He got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife! All I could make out in that moment was a tear filled head nod, but I have never made an easier decision than saying yes to my best friend.

I've known Mariana since we were in 7th grade, that's most of my life! In August, we were celebrating our seven year anniversary in Charleston. We spent the day at the South Carolina Aquarium (where I thought I originally wanted to propose) and I was anxious the whole day; just trying to play it cool and hoping she couldn't tell something was up. But, the weather was rainy and gloomy and kept me from feeling that the timing/location was right. We left the aquarium with me feeling even more anxious than I had before about the proposal. We went to a nice restaurant to celebrate our anniversary and after a nice dinner walked to Waterfront Park. All day we had been reminiscing about old memories and wondering where the time had gone. We have come so far from meeting when we were 12 to celebrating our 7 year anniversary at 24. We sat by the pineapple fountain and I was as nervous as I've ever been about something. I was trying to hold myself still and not give anything away but, I was sure she could tell from the stammering that something was up. We were reminiscing about the night seven years ago when I asked Mariana to be my girlfriend. While telling her how nervous I was that night I revealed that I had struggled all day keeping something from her: I dropped down on one knee and asked her to be my wife. Her yes filled me with a sense of joy I'm not sure I will ever feel again. I am truly blessed.