We're Engaged!

Kyle and Ellen have the sweetest engagement story, and we are so excited to congratulate them on our blog! Read on to learn more below.

How We Met

Kyle and I first met in the spring of 2005 when we had a philosophy class together at Belmont University as freshmen. I don’t specifically remember us introducing ourselves to each other, but I always knew his name and really loved his smile. He tells me now that he had a crush on me the first time he saw me walk into that class.

For the next couple of years, we didn’t have much contact but would always greet each other on campus. For some reason on one afternoon in March 2007, we saw each other on campus and actually stopped and talked for a few minutes. We were interrupted by one of my friends from high school and he walked away looking a little defeated. I really enjoyed talking to him though and wanted to get to know him a little better. When I returned to my apartment, I sent him a Facebook message asking if he wanted to come hang out that night at a friend’s house. He said he would come, and we exchanged numbers. That’s when it all began!

At that time we dated for about a month, but it was just the wrong time for us. But from that point on we talked constantly and saw a lot of each other. There was some tension between us because we always remained interested in each other (although that was mostly unspoken). Finally in September 2008 after we had both graduated from college, we started a relationship!

The Engagement

Kyle proposed on the evening of January 7, 2012. Earlier in the afternoon, he texted me to ask if I wanted to go to dinner at one of our favorite restaurants, PM. Of course I agreed. Normally we would meet there since it’s right between our apartments, but Kyle said he wanted to pick me up. This was a little out of the ordinary, but I said that would be great and thought he was just being extra sweet that night.

He came and picked me up and we started driving to the restaurant. He didn’t turn where we normally would and I thought he kind of forgot where we were going. I just said, “Wait, where are you going?” He was headed in the direction of Belmont’s campus. He said, “Oh, I was walking on the campus earlier today and I saw something I want to show you.” For some reason I didn’t ask any questions and just said, “…okay.” He laughed a little nervously, but I didn’t really think anything of it.

When we got there, he parked in a parking garage and we started walking to some unknown destination. He still hadn’t told me what this “something” was he wanted to “show” me. About a minute before it happened, he threw me off the scent by saying, “Well I don’t know if we’ll be able to see it when it’s dark… I hope we can.” It worked, because any small hope I had that this might be the big moment was pretty much dashed. I was thinking, “Ugh, he really is bringing me all the way up here to show me some stupid new construction site or statue or something.” He paused right outside the building where we first met in that philosophy class in 2005. He turned to me smiling and gave me a little kiss. He was just beaming. I started to think that something was fishy… and then he said, “I don’t want you to ever forget this.” That’s when I knew. I started pretty much hyperventilating as he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I was gasping, “Yes, yes!! Yes!” I hugged him and cried and laughed simultaneously into his shoulder for a while. Then I remembered that there was a ring for me in his hand. I pulled back and said through my sobs and weird giggles, “Oh... can I see it??” It was the perfect proposal and I was totally surprised. He knew that that’s what I always wanted most of all, to be surprised. After stopping on the sidewalk and calling friends and family members to tell them the good news, we walked to PM for a celebration dinner and then met up with some friends to continue the party!

The Ceremony

Our ceremony will be here in Nashville at Christ Church Cathedral on June 8, 2012. The reception will follow at The Noah Liff Opera Center. I fell in love with the reception venue as soon as I saw it! It’s such a beautiful building, and Sarah Willard has been wonderful in helping us with the planning process.

Best of luck, Kyle and Ellen! We hope you guys have many happy years together. Congratulations!

Images courtesy of Captured by Leslie.

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