Jaime and I met during her first travel nurse contract in Seattle, thanks to Hinge (a dating app). Our first date started with an appearance I'll never forget—she showed up with a black eye after being punched by a random lady downtown. Despite her injury, Jaime’s smile and the effortless way she carried herself immediately drew me in.

That summer evening in 2018, we met at Maggie Bluffs, a cozy spot overlooking Elliott Bay and Mt. Rainier. We giggled, shared drinks, and enjoyed the view. Afterward, I suggested we visit Kerry Park for what I promised was the best view in Seattle. As we stood there taking in the cityscape, a couple of tourists asked us to take their photo and kindly returned the favor. That photo became our very first picture together.

But life didn’t unfold as smoothly as we hoped. After about a month of dating, we decided to part ways. We lost touch for over a year but eventually reconnected as friends. Over the next couple of years, Jaime’s nursing assignments brought her back to Seattle, and we spent time together in a new, relaxed way. Slowly, we rebuilt our relationship, even as Jaime considered me, in her words, “undatable.”

There was one pivotal moment that made me realize I still had feelings for her. I was out with Jaime and her friends at a brewery when Avery casually asked if she was excited about her date the next day. It crushed me. On the drive home, I called my sister Rachel and confessed: “I like this gal, and I think I might be too late.”

As fate would have it, a few weeks later, I moved into my new house just blocks from Jaime. Unfortunately, I came down with COVID, but Jaime checked in on me during a rock-climbing date (of all things) and offered to drop off ramen. Her gesture—and the care behind it—gave me hope. Not long after I recovered, I invited her on a sunset boat cruise. That led to the long awaited question to ask Jaime out: after some consideration and Thai food, Jaime finally agreed to date me. From that point on, it’s been nothing short of amazing with this southern bell.

Our adventures have been everything to me. We’ve road-tripped across the U.S. in Jaime’s beloved (and now retired) silver car, explored Tokyo and the Philippines, escaped to San Diego’s beaches, and spent countless nights on the Puget Sound, cruising under the stars.

The proposal was inevitable but still a surprise for Jaime. I spent months designing her engagement ring and planning the right moment. After getting her parents’ blessing during a boat trip to Whidbey Island, I set the stage. At the summit of Snoqualmie Pass, surrounded by the mountains, I read her a letter recounting our story—a long game that led me to the Georgia peach I couldn’t imagine life without. As I got down on one knee and she said yes - we laughed, cried, and celebrated the start of forever with dinner, champagne, and Facetime calls to family.

Jaime is my life partner. Her love for people, her optimism, and her joyful approach to life make everything better. She’s my balance—the night owl to my early bird, the “good cop” to my occasional “bad cop.” Together, we work seamlessly.

When it came to planning our wedding, we knew we wanted to share the beauty of the Pacific Northwest with our favorite people. We chose Swiftwater Cellars in Cle Elum, Washington, for its stunning mountain landscape and the chance to create a weekend full of memories with friends and family.

We can’t wait to celebrate this next chapter with ya'll and are so grateful to have you as part of our story.

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