The Havards

We met on a christian dating app when the height of Covid was coming down. Quarantine was over, but social distancing and wearing masks were still at their peak. For our first date, which was our first meeting in person, we met at a bar called "The Flying Saucer," which would later become "our spot." We had a great time hanging out and decided we would be good friends. We started spending a lot of time together, multiple days a week, actually. Emily remembers thinking he was so funny. He has had a knack for making her laugh from the beginning. Luckily, laughter is the way to her heart. We knew the exact moment we realized that our feelings for each other were more than just the feelings you have for a friend. We were painting a table Emily had thrifted that she wanted to use for crafting in her room. Then, we went out for a drive; we decided to try to get to Uptown Charlotte without using a map. Thank goodness we're living in the times of GPS because we were unsuccessful. We finally made it to Uptown and stopped at First Ward Park. We went to a fountain and talked for hours while throwing at least $10 worth of loose change into the fountain making wishes. At that moment, we both knew we were more than just friends, and that this would be where we fell in love.

Emily knew the proposal was coming; she just didn't know when. Within the two years between meeting and getting engaged, we rented an apartment together, went on many vacations, got promotions, changed jobs, and even bought our first home. It was nearly impossible to surprise her, but Aaron still managed to do just that. There were months of planning that he was able to keep a secret from her to make this day one that neither of us will forget. She suspected he would propose when he paid for her and her best friend (now maid of honor) to get their nails done, but she still had no proof. The next day, he told her he wanted to have a "fun-only" day—no household chores, no school work, only fun things. We started that by having breakfast at one of our favorite places, then off to Target for new clothes. He was in such a great mood, and seeing him smile the way he did that day is a memory she'll never forget. Unfortunately, Emily wasn't feeling well, so she took a nap, which stressed Aaron out because there was a specific timeline that she didn't know existed, but it was much needed. He woke her when it was time to get ready because our fun day was ready to continue. She had a specific outfit that she wanted to wear when he proposed: a white dress with black polka dots because Aaron loves polka dots. She wasn't sure he would propose, but she couldn't risk not wearing the right thing, so she put on that dress, just in case. He took her to The Flying Saucer for their first stop, where they had their first date. They hadn't been there in so long, but something about that place made it feel like it was still 2020, and they were meeting for the first time. We had fun talking, enjoying a drink, and queso with chips. Before we knew it, he was whisking us off to a secret location. Emily remembers him saying, "You really didn't think I'd propose to you at a dive bar, did you?" But she honestly didn't care if he did because The Flying Saucer is such a special place in our relationship. We drove for a while, and she remembered thinking, "I have no idea where he could possibly be taking me." We pulled up outside the park, and that's when she realized we were at the park that we fell in love at two years ago. He took me to the fountain, where we made those wishes, and gave her some quarters to make a few more. Then, he told her he was about to make one of his wishes that night in 2020 come true. He got down on one knee and asked her to marry him. To which she obviously said yes! He put the most beautiful ring on her finger, and as they kissed, Emily noticed a camera from the corner of her eye. This wonderful man hired a photographer to capture this moment, which was perfect. We got to have our engagement shoot right then and there in the very park, where our relationship changed from friendship to love. After taking hundreds of pictures, we continued the celebration with our parents at his parents' house. It was a wonderful way to commemorate this moment in our relationship, and it was the best day of our lives so far.