How We Met

Depending on who you ask, you'll get two different stories. If you ask Evelyn, she'll tell you the first time we met was back in the Summer 2015 while she was waitressing at a local breakfast place in Lexington named "Josie's." My friend Jack & I walked into Josie's to visit Jack's soon-to-be girlfriend Hannah, who was also a waitress. Upon sitting down, Evelyn looked at Hannah and said "That is the most handsome boy I've ever seen." Lucky for me, Evelyn actually meant that so Hannah introduced us. However, this was not actually the first time we met. A couple weeks prior I ran into Evelyn and her group of friends at a bowling alley. We were introduced, but she doesn't remember me that night because she spent most of the night denying my friend who was attempting to swoon her. Fortunately for me, she wasn't having it! Regardless of who's story is correct we ended up spending the next 3 years building a friendship before FINALLY taking the next step and starting a relationship. Waiting those 3 years was worth every second, because I still think I am the luckiest guy in the world.

The Proposal

Buckle up, because this was quite the ride. I asked for Mr. & Mrs. Latta's permission to marry their daughter back in February 2020. I was elated to receive their blessing, and immediately began planning. Evelyn & I were planning a big trip to Greece that Summer to celebrate her graduation from law school and completion of the bar exam. It was going to be perfect. Proposal photos with the blue waters and white buildings of Santorini in the background, can you imagine?! However, the COVID-19 pandemic had other ideas and our trip was canceled. Back to square one.

Evelyn & I were fortunate enough to be able to purchase our first home together in May 2020, so I thought "well its not Santorini, but our first night in our first home together would be romantic!" Nope, the ring was not done in time because you guessed it: COVID-19 shutdowns. I finally received the ring in July, and started to plan a weekend away to a lake cabin in Michigan. I had a photographer, I had the location, it was set. But as the date got closer, COVID-19 rates were rising and ultimately we decided it was not the time to take a vacation.

At this point I was feeling pretty defeated. However, in August I saw a co-workers post from a Sunflower field just outside of Lexington and I knew that was it. I immediately texted our sisters to make sure both could come, and luckily both made it on 4 days notice. That Saturday arrived and everything went perfectly. Our photographer nailed the photos, our sisters jumped out at the end to surprise Evelyn, and then her brother-in-law Caleb came walking down with our dogs as the cherry on top. We came home that night to a small gathering of our good friends in Lexington to celebrate, and the perfect day was finally complete. The joy I saw in Evelyn's eyes that day made every single struggle and complication to make it happen absolutely worth it!