It all started with a friendly game of kickball. I had been playing in a kickball league with some friends for a couple of seasons when three new people joined our team. I remember Jake introducing himself and thinking he seemed shy but sweet. Little did I know this man would be my future husband. As the season went on, we got to know each other better, him playing short stop and me playing third base. His positivity, good nature, and sense of humor made me look forward to Wednesday nights. One night after a game, we all got drinks at The Patio and were talking about this gym called Camp, which Jake hadn't tried yet. I was hyping up the yoga class and somehow talked Jake into signing up. The next morning he was there at 6am. It was pretty clear he hadn't done yoga before, especially based on his decision to wear his usual baseball cap, but that didn't stop him from attempting every pose. After the season ended, Jake texted asking me to dinner. I was a little caught off guard by his text but also felt some excited butterflies when I read it. However, I had just started seeing someone, so I politely declined. The next season of kickball started. Jake and I fell into our usual banter on the field. I was no longer seeing anyone and found myself wondering if Jake was still single. Luckily for me (and with some convincing by his friends), Jake didn't let the first attempt stop him from trying again. After a night out bowling with some friends from the team, Jake texted me the next day asking to get dinner soon. This time I said yes. Our first date had been a Thursday night in August. Jake was leaning casually against his car when I walked out of my apartment. Being the gentleman he is, Jake got the car door for me. I was a little nervous, but once we got to dinner, the conversation was easy like we'd known each for years. When he dropped me off, I didn't want the date to end. But this was just the beginning of our story!

Clare and I moved in together in June 2023 and we knew we had something special. We loved spending time with one another whether it was over a meal, watching football, or working out, we were inseparable. Our first big trip together was a road trip from Tampa to Jacksonville to Savannah to Charleston over the course of one week. It was an amazing trip that consisted of a country concert, quaint coffee shops, and a wedding of a close friend. On our last night of the trip, I distinctly remember getting back to the hotel with no doubt in my mind that I would marry Clare one day. About a year and a half into dating, Clare and I began thinking about marriage. Given Clare’s love for art, I had conjured a plan to propose on the terrace at the Dali Museum in St. Pete and create an ‘exhibit’ for her of a timeline of our relationship with the last painting being one of us. I began planning by ordering a painting of us that I thought would show our relationship. I ordered the painting from an artist in London that I had used before as a gift for Clare and I knew she would love it. During the planning process, the opportunity came up (byway of Taylor Swift) to go to Scotland in early June 2024 with our friends, Nicole and Neil. They were planning to go see Taylor Swift in Edinburgh and asked if we wanted to tag along. Although we did not plan to go to the concert, Clare and I decided to go to Scotland. I knew immediately that a Scotland proposal would be magical! After planning the Scotland trip, I got in touch with local photographers who helped me pick out a great spot to propose - Eilean Donan Castle - a fully restored castle on an island in Dornie where three lochs meet. The scenery around the castle and the location are picturesque and a great setup for photo opportunities. The stage was set. On the morning of Tuesday, June 11, 2024, we were running a few minutes late for our ‘private tour’ of Eilean Donan Castle. However, Neil did a speedy job of getting us there in a timely manner. As we walked towards the bridge of the castle, I was extremely nervous. Within 10 minutes, I would be popping the question. We met our ‘tour guide’ and ‘tour group’ at the gate to the bridge. Clare did not suspect a thing. As they opened the gate, Clare and I immediately began walking up the bridge as the rest of the group hung towards the back. I told Clare to stop for a photo in a nook of the bridge. I planned an entire speech for this moment. Words from the heart that meant a lot to me and… I said none of them. As I walked up to Clare, all that came out of my mouth was “You know I am going to marry you, right?” We both immediately began to cry and I think both of us blacked out, being so caught up in emotions of that moment. But I do remember getting down on one knee to ask the question that would start this next journey of our lives together, “Will you marry me?”