J.R. had spent the Summer of 2014 helping with the Mike Ross campaign with his friend Bailey. Allie's sister, Ashton, worked for the Mike Ross campaign as well, so Allie also spent her time volunteering. Bailey and Ashton had been telling both Allie and J.R. that they needed to meet all Summer. Yet, the twos paths never crossed that Summer.
J.R. started law school in August and moved back to Fayetteville. A couple of days before the election, though Bailey called J.R. and told him that he was coming to Fayetteville for one final campaign stop with Congressman Ross at Drake Field the day before the election. More importantly, however, Bailey said he was bringing Allie!
Thus, J.R. took time off from studying, put on a sport coat, and went to Drake Field to meet this girl that everyone said he should meet. When J.R. got to Drake Field, Bailey introduced J.R. to Allie and immediately said "Y'all are going to go on a date right?" J.R. didn't know what to say, but without missing a beat, Allie said "we'll make it happen."
They did just that. J.R. and Allie chatted for awhile at Drake Field and then a few days later J.R. asked Allie out on a date to Theo's restaurant. The rest is history!
In uncharacteristic fashion, J.R. had the details of the proposal planed for months. He had bought an engagement ring that was the style that he knew Allie wanted. He had talked with her parents. He had booked a venue for an after party and invited their friends and family.
The plans was for J.R. and Allie to take Jackie-O on a walk around Old Main at the University of Arkansas where he would propose as the two came upon Spoofer's stone, a proposal tradition at the University of Arkansas. Then, the two would go to the after party at Sassafras Springs Vineyard where they would meet their friends and family. Allie was none the wiser.
On the planned day, it started to rain. The forecast called for rain all day. J.R. frantically tried to rearrange his plans as he knew he would not be able to get Allie to Old Main in the rain. He was able to arrange for a small cabin at Sassafras Springs Vineyard for the proposal.
He tried to call Allie that day to tell her they needed to go to Sassafras that night just to make sure the plan would work, but he could not get a hold of her for over 6 hours. For you see, Allie had spontaneously gone to a murder trial that day for one of her classes.
Finally, after Allie came home, J.R. was able to get her to go to Sassafras under the guise that they had to meet his parents who were staying in a cabin there for the weekend. The two were still quite late, though, as Allie insisted on washing the dishes before she would leave!
As the two approached the cabin, J.R. let Allie take the lead. When she got to the top of the steps upon the porch, J.R. took a knee on the bottom step and popped the question. J.R. opened the ring box upside down, but Allie still said "Yes!"
The two then celebrated with their friends and family. It certainly was a day that won't be forgotten.