They met back in August of 2016. Payton had just moved down to Lexington, SC a few months ago and Joe was attending the University of South Carolina in Columbia - just 20 minutes away. The stars aligned and their paths finally crossed. They spoke on the phone for a few days and then Payton (yes, Payton!) asked Joe on a date to IHOP, which was where she was working at the time. After eating breakfast together, Joe showed Payton around the USC campus. They were driving in his Passat when Payton looked over at him and there was a voice in her head telling her, "He's going to be very important to you." From that first date, Payton knew Joe was the one. Over the years, they grew closer and closer and continued falling head over heels for one another with each passing day, regardless of going long-distance until September of 2019. It was on Valentine's Day of 2017 that Joe told Payton that he loved her. Telling Joe that she loved him too was the easiest thing for Payton to say. In March 2022, they went on a 7-night Caribbean cruise with Royal Caribbean. (Payton's first cruise EVER!) It was on March 11th of 2022 when Joe got on one knee at the mini golf course on the cruise ship and asked Payton to marry him! She honestly thought he was joking at first, but happily said yes to spending the rest of their lives together. They've already gone through college together, bought a house together, have animals together, so might as well make it official, right? Now here they are. Getting married and, yes, OFFICIALLY committing their lives to each other. Total grown ups. And they are ecstatic to share this major life milestone with you all.