We met through a mutual friend - shoutout to Richard's groomsman, Conner. Conner became best friends with Richard in high school, and knew McKenna from college. Richard and Conner happened to live right down the street from McKenna in Charlotte, NC, and they all started hanging out and watching football together at the boys' house. After spending time together in group settings a few times, Richard and Conner mentioned to McKenna's friend (and now, bridesmaid) Hannah that Richard thought McKenna was cute. They met up that night at Carmella's on Montford, when Richard offered to buy McKenna a shot at the bar - and the rest is history!

McKenna's parents were in town, passing through on their way from Naples, FL to Easton, MD. Richard told McKenna that his boss had won a sunset cruise that left out of Folly Beach, and he thought it would be a fun thing to do with her parents. The "sunset cruise guide" (actually, a friend of Richard's that McKenna had never met and who was using a fake name) took them to the lighthouse on Morris Island, where McKenna, Richard, and her parents got off the boat to walk around the beach. While walking down the beach, Richard started telling McKenna how much he loved her and wanted to spend his life with her, when she noticed that his breathing was awfully heavy. "Why are you breathing like that?" McKenna said, as Richard got down on one knee and proposed! They celebrated with champagne and charcuterie (McKenna's favorite) and spent the rest of the evening with McKenna's parents enjoying celebratory dinner and drinks.