Rook and I were introduced through mutual friends at a bar in Charlotte. It was a Friday night, and I hadn't planned on going out because of the ACC Championship game the next day. I was finally persuaded to head to Montford for 'one drink' to see all of the Clemson people in town. Rook and I met, spending the rest of the night lost in conversation like old friends.
He invited me to a Christmas party the next weekend. We arrived at his parent's house before the event, where, to my surprise, I met his entire family on our very first date.
At the party we laughed and danced and laughed some more, and we've been inseparable ever since. Its crazy to think about how a quick decision to head out the door on a Friday night led us down the path to where we are today!
Fast forward a year, and our first big trip together was to Breckenridge, CO. We were so excited to spend time skiing, catching up with old friends, and ringing in the New Year. The third day into our trip, I got severe food poisoning.
We called my mom, as we weren't sure I was going to be able to make the long flight home. With no car, terrible cell service, and pouring snow, Rook took the 5am bus to a local pharmacy to get medicine.
Despite a too-small Airbnb & worsening weather conditions, we survived and made it back to Charlotte. But we learned a lot about the meaning of taking care of one another and the importance of checking the expiration date on groceries!
When I moved to Paris for my MBA, Rook nor I knew exactly what to prepare for, but we knew we would figure it out as we went.
Before my flight, he gave me a package full of letters - each with instructions to open at a different milestone of my year. One to read on the plane over, one for my first exam, one for the move into my new Parisian apartment, etc. He even included letters from my best friends and parents, and letters for days I was feeling homesick. I knew then that no matter what distance or challenge came our way, we could overcome it!
We quickly learned that while navigating different time zones is tough, we could make up for it through the opportunities to pursue our love of travel. 2018 was the perfect year for checking things off our bucket list!
We spent a week in Cuba, horseback riding through tobacco fields, exploring crystal clear beaches, and getting lost in Old Havana. Rook sharpened his Spanish skills, and I taste-tested the best piña coladas the island had to offer. Meeting-up in different countries fed our passion for exploring different cultures and solidified our love for one another.
That year, we also skied the Swiss Alps, paired wine and cheese in France, and ate fresh seafood along the coast of Spain. We cherish all of these memories and look forward to adding more in the future!
I took a job in NYC, and Rook was up for the weekend to visit. It was a Friday, and I was getting home from a tough day at work.
One of our favorite things to do is order in and binge Netflix, so Rook tried to cheer me up with a stack of takeout menu options. As I was going through them, I noticed one was a 'Menu' he had made himself, listing things to do for a day full of celebrations. Coffee in Central Park, Brunch at a new restaurant, and reservations for our favorite Comedy Show were all options on the list.
I looked up, and Rook was down on one knee. He proposed - on our new couch, in our new home, in what will soon become our new city.
We celebrated with Champagne and called our family & friends to share the good news. We ended the night at our favorite Thai place around the corner from our apartment. It was perfect - it was very 'us'.
For as long as I can remember, the Carolina coast has felt like home. From visiting Grandparents to beach trips with my family, some of my earliest and best memories stretch from the Grand Strand down to Beaufort.
When Rook and I started dating, Pawleys was a favorite weekend getaway for visiting my parents and chasing our love of boats, the sun, the sand, and the water.
Four years later, when we were making the decision of where to tie the knot, Pawleys felt like the natural choice. We can't wait to say 'I do' under 200-year-old live Oak Trees, beside historic salt marshes where the rice fields meet the still, blue water.
The low country is a special place where we hope to make many more memories for years to come, and we can't wait to share it with you!
Soon enough we will both call NYC home! We are so looking forward to this next chapter and the adventures that this magical city will bring!
Love,
Alley & Rook