Jessie and Craig had been hearing about each other from their friends Madison and Cal for years, but they finally met when they were seated together at Madison and Cal’s rehearsal dinner in Fairhope on October 10th. What started as a conversation over dinner continued later that night at Monkey Bar, then picked right back up at the wedding reception the next day before another late night. By the end of the weekend, it was clear Madison and Cal might have been onto something all along.

Craig soon found himself making more and more trips to Nashville under the guise of visiting his sister, Blakely. By December, the excuses had worn thin, and he was making the trip every other week anyway. They’ve since logged more than 17,000 miles on I-65 between Nashville and Fairhope, with plenty more to come.

Everything just felt right from the start. They shared the same values, made each other laugh, and quickly became each other’s favorite person to spend time with. The pace of their relationship probably seemed fast to some—but for the people who know them best, it made perfect sense.

On June 27th, Craig suggested a walk at Percy Warner Park. Jessie had always insisted she’s a difficult person to surprise, but Craig had promised he’d pull it off anyway—and he kept his word. At the Luke Lea Heights Scenic Overlook—the same spot where Jessie’s parents got engaged—Craig dropped to one knee and asked her to marry him.

Now they’re counting down the days until January, when they’ll celebrate with all their favorite people who have been cheering them on from the very beginning.