How did two of Nashville's tallest residents meet? Well, we lived 7 minutes away from each other off the same street for nearly 2 years so naturally... we met on an app. How millennial of us (thanks Hinge!).
Trevor had a few pictures on his profile that got Stephanie's attention. He liked to travel (as evidenced by an adorable picture of childhood Trevor hanging out with a penguin in Antartica). Stephanie had a very important question on her page all suitors had to answer correctly ("Seinfield" or "Friends"?). Trevor picked "Friends" (the best answer), Stephanie rejoiced. Could we BE any happier?
On March 21, 2018, we decided to meet for drinks at our favorite local spot, then known as "the basement at The Sutler." After a night of cocktails and conversations, Trevor walked Stephanie to her car and said he would love to see her again.
Our second date followed shortly after, a whole 3 days later. And then came the third date, the fourth... and without much of a conversation, we fell into the easiest and most effortless relationship.
Over a year later, we're still going strong. And thanks to Netflix, we actively stream episodes of "Friends" in our happy home.
What's the most memorable trip you have taken together?
While the easy and obvious choice is Venice (how do you top getting engaged?!), our first trip together definitely set the tone. We took a long weekend trip to Asheville, NC a few weeks after we had met. The idea seemed crazy considering how early the relationship was, but we are both adventurous spirits and like to travel so we packed up the car and hit the road. Stephanie is a planner, Trevor is a go with the flow kinda guy. This trip had potential to be disastrous, however it went in the opposite way. Some days we strayed off course from what the itinerary had in store, others we stuck to the to do list but what we found was how seamless every moment of the weekend was. Trevor also learned how terrified Stephanie is of snakes when we encountered one on our hike through the mountains and she screamed loud enough for people 5 states away to hear.What's your favorite activity together?
We're hermits (shocking, we know). We're happiest when we're in the comfort of our cozy home with each other. This usually is accompanied by: cooking, cleaning, cuddling with the dogs and enjoying a glass (or bottle) of wine. We also spend a lot of time at our local spin studio Full Ride Cycling and our favorite yoga studio Shakti Power Yoga.Where are you going for your honeymoon?
We'll be heading to Bermuda for some quality R&R, beach and spa time!
Trevor had the big question to ask, it's only fair he gets to tell the story. So here it is!
"If everyone could stay seated, there are a few passengers who have connecting flights that need to de-plane first."
The announcement came just a few minutes before I found myself barreling up the aisle of the plane: following closely behind Stephanie, and clutching my jacket with a white knuckle grip.
The stress didn't come from the short connection - the stress came from the idea of the engagement ring bouncing out of my jacket's pocket as we sprinted through the chaotic Newark Airport.
Running through crowds, clutching my coat against me, I couldn't help but think of what I had told Stephanie just the night before.
"One of the reasons I'm not going to be proposing in Venice is that I don't want to be stressed the whole time. I want to be able to enjoy this vacation and not have a proposal distracting me. Plus: you know me and expensive things - I'd get way too paranoid about traveling with an engagement ring." In that moment, as I dodged around people and suitcases like I was an a field day obstacle course, I thought that perhaps I should have followed my own advice.
But the ring didn't bounce out, we made it to Venice, and I hung my jacket in the closet where it would remain until Friday morning.
Friday, May 3rd, we had arranged for a photo shoot just after sunrise. Stephanie had wanted to have some nice photos of us to hang in our apartment, and she figured Venice was a nice place to get those taken. I figured that if we were going to have a photographer there anyway, this would be a great place to pop the question.We made our way to St. Mark's Square via the public water bus. Stephanie in her flowing floral dress, me in my button up shirt, and a light drizzle misting from the sky. Soft light and the smell of fresh rain brought a feeling of serenity to me.
Our photographer, Carlo, was a gregarious Italian in his early 30's, with the scruffy beard that one must expect from an artist type. Having been born and raised in Venice, he knew all the nooks and crannies of the city.
Posing in front of a couple of the main sites, I wondered if there was a way for me to get Carlo alone so I could tell him what was in my jacket pocket. He had a couple hooks on his backpack where we were able to attach our backpack and jackets during shots.
The mist that had been present all morning had my back. As I was hooking my backpack onto Carlo's, Stephanie exclaimed, "I'm going to go wait under that overhang while you do that so my hair doesn't get frizzy." She marched out of earshot.
"Carlo," I said in a hushed but sturdy tone, "I have a ring in my jacket pocket. I'm going to be proposing during this shoot!"
His eyebrows shot up. "Oh really!? That's fantastic! Where do you want to do it?"
"You tell me. When we get to a spot that you know is beautiful and there won't be other people around, give me a signal. I'll get the ring from my jacket and I'll do it there."
"Okay, this," he squeezed my arm, "is the signal."
The next couple spots we stopped to take photos at a are now a blur. I kept wondering when that moment would be. When would he squeeze my arm.
We approached a bridge. "Okay Stephanie, you stand here against the railing. Trevor," I feel a squeeze on my arm, "you stand here."
I grabbed the box out of my jacket pocket and held it in my hand - my palm covering most of it while I held it out of sight from Stephanie.
The ground was wet. I didn't have a speech prepared, but I knew that an unexpected question can bring someone's attention to the present moment and out of their head. I looked Stephanie in the eye. "I have a question..."
"Okay...?" she replied.
"Would it be ok if I got my pants wet?"
"What?! Why?!"
I could feel the cool dampness of the ground against my leg as I got down on my knee. I held the box in front of me. I looked up. I opened the box."Will you marry me?"
Her mouth fell open. Her eyes teared up. She covered her mouth. She took a deep breath.
"Yes!!!"
I slid the ring on her finger and got to my feet. We hugged, and I kissed my fiancé.
Stephanie grew up in Los Angeles, CA as the youngest of 4 children. Her parents, Alfonso and Clara came to the United States from Spain with their three children Eva, Alfonso and Ivan in the early 80s. Shortly after, Stephanie was born and the Gonzalez crew was complete.
Obsessed with music and lyrics since she was a kid, Stephanie eventually moved to Nashville to pursue her dream of working in the music industry.
She loves dogs (shoutout to Zeus and Coco!), authentic people and boybands*.
*Choreographed dance moves are welcome and encouraged at the Murphy wedding.
Trevor was born and raised in Washington State. Growing up, he had the great fortune of traveling the world - making it to all seven continents by the time he was fifteen.
He has two older brothers and a younger sister: Connor, Mitchell, and Miya. After finishing high school, Trevor was happy to go to the school of his choice: the workforce. Spending some time working in hotels, then at a spa, peppered with a couple worldwide excursions, Trevor eventually found himself in Nashville, Tennessee.
Trevor is naturally curious - he loves figuring out how things work and has a very deep appreciation for NASA, space exploration, float tanks and Sasquatch. Yes, THE Sasquatch.