One weekend in March, I was in West Virginia to babysit a friends sweet kids on a ski trip. After a day of skiing, I checked my phone and saw multiple texts from my cousin (and bridesmaid), Cara. All of the texts said that she is at a cookout and she found the PERFECT man for me. I figured she was just having fun at a cookout, but then she proceeded to FaceTime me. I thought, “oh heck no, I am not going to meet a guy over FaceTime” and ignored the call. After I got home from the ski trip and returned back to school, during morning hall duty, Cara was still very excited about this mysterious perfect man she found for me. She kept asking me if he has reached out to me yet to take me on a date (which he had not). Cara then proceeded to text Taylor, encouraging him to take me on a date. A day or two passed and I still did not hear anything from this mystery man, which made Cara just text him more, encouraging him to reach out to me. To my surprise, I woke up the next morning to a Facebook message from Taylor. That is where it all began....
The day started out like a typical Saturday, hanging outside with the dogs getting ready to go by Clayton’s for a party at his neighbors’ house. Little did I know the importance of attending the party that night! Shortly after arriving the beers began to flow and everyone started to play yard games. Being the only single person at the party naturally someone always has to play match maker and wow did Cara fill that role! After seeing how “cool & fun” I was, smelling the flowers and enjoying all the plants outside, Cara swept in with a bold “You should date my cousin!”. Cara was quick to turn to Bo for validation, “Wouldn’t Taylor have fun with Paige?” and that was only the beginning… For the remainder of the evening Cara’s efforts escalated, sharing pictures, talking Paige up, even repeatedly Facetiming Paige to try and introduce us on the spot right then and there. The persistence truly paid off as I was able to connect with Paige and start conversation leading to our first date later that week!
It was a rainy day in Charleston, school had a two hour early release due to the rain and wind in the forecast in the afternoon. I was excited to get home early and hunker down with Netflix on the couch for the night. Taylor was texting me throughout the day to see how my day was going and to tell him of my plans of watching Netflix on the couch during the storm. As the evening approached, Taylor asked me if I was hungry, which to no surprise, I was. He knew that I had a deep love for nachos and asked me if he could take me to Home Team BBQ on Sullivans Island for some nachos. I immediately got very nervous, but knew I had to say yes. Right when I replied yes, he immediately said that he was on the way. This only made me get even more nervous, which made me text Cara telling her how nervous I was and that I think I should change my mind (it was a long drive for Taylor so I had a lot of time to overthink how this date could go). She told me that I had to go and that I would not regret it (I mean what's the worst that can happen, right?!). When Taylor arrived to pick me up by the pool at my apartment, I was immediately taken back by his cute smile, and how much Taylor looked like one of my teenage crushes, Ryan Sheckler. The whole car ride to dinner, there was not one dull moment. The car ride was full of so much laughter and happiness. We got to Home Team and sat at the bar, where I proceeded to order a huge plate of nachos (for myself), and Taylor ordered some wings (great first date food choices? The messier the better??). I was having so much fun that I did not want the date to end! I remember after dinner, Taylor walked me to my door (such a gentleman), and looked inside of my apartment at all of my plants. Taylor said, "Wow, you love plants too? Your stuff will look good with my stuff if you ever move in with me". I didn't have the heart to tell him that all of my plants are actually fake, because I kill every plant that enters into my dark apartment, but in that moment, I knew that he may be "the one".
It was mid-week and I had just sat down on the couch with the pups after work. I was quick to take out my phone and message Paige to see how her day went as we continued small talk getting to know each other. Dinner time was quickly approaching so this was my shot to pop the question, “are
you hungry?”. Knowing the odds were in my favor based on the time of day I was confident Paige would say yes, and she did! Soon after there I was, waiting at the pool parking lot of her apartment complex wondering which direction she would surprise me from. As Paige hopped into the jeep she was even
more beautiful in person than any picture Cara could have shown me! The next question was, where do we go to eat? As luck would have it, we ended up at Home Team BBQ on Sullivan’s Island where we had both of our favorite foods – nachos and wings! The night continued on with great conversation filled with tons of laughs through which I quickly learned Paige had the personality to match her beauty. As we parted ways that evening I was sure we’d have a second date which ultimately turned into our nacho tour of the Charleston area over the next few weeks. I will never forget how I felt leaving our first date, wondering what the future would bring. I am so excited to spend the rest of our lives together on our nacho world tour!
We were at Paige's family lake house for Fathers Day Weekend (the same lake house where Paige's dad proposed to Paige's mom!). Paige's dad was letting Taylor and Paige take the Boston Whaler boat back to Charleston with us so Taylor and Dave were hanging out all morning getting the boat cleaned and ready. After the boat was cleaned, the whole family spent a couple of hours out on the water. Paige's dad said he had to be back at the house by 2 to get on a work call and that he would come back out after his call, leaving the rest of the family on the sailboat. Taylor randomly decided that both him and Paige also needed to go back to the house to check on the dogs. Paige didn't really want to go back and wanted to just stay on the sailboat, but after a little convincing, she ultimately decided to go back with him. When we got back to the house, Taylor went into the bedroom to check on the dogs as Paige relaxed in the sitting room. After a few minutes, Taylor called out to Paige asking her to come into the bedroom. As Paige opened the door and went into the bedroom, Taylor was down on one knee and asked Paige to marry him. Paige was in such shock and disbelief that she could only reply with, "Is this a joke? I can't tell if you are being serious or not" to which he replied, "that would be such a mean joke... can you answer my question?! Will you marry me?!". Paige then replied, "Of course!"