View Point at Buckhorn Creek | Greenville, SC (Arlen & Katelyn)

[Written by Katelyn]

I had just moved back home to Greenville, having left a job in Miami, Florida. After being home for about a month, my good friend Alejandra and I, went downtown for a comedy show and decided to grab a few drinks afterwards. We walked into a taproom, and as we walked to get a drink, a guy called Alejandra's name and they gave each other a big hug. I could tell by their interaction that they were old friends. Arlen and I both stared at each other with a look of “who are you,” since we shared a mutual friend, yet we had never crossed paths. I had known Alejandra since we were teenagers. Our first initial impressions of each other when she introduced us were not the greatest, funny enough. Without even holding a conversation yet, he came across as very confident, but in a cocky way, and he thought I looked a little stuck up. We all decided to sit down together with the rest of our group, and we actually spent most of the night talking to just each other. As it turned out, neither of us were what we thought…ha! He let me know he traveled a lot for work, and was only home for a bit, while I let him know I was looking to get settled back home and focus on my career. I mentioned to Alejandra after we left, that I thought he was really nice and cute. Then, casually, she let me know he was a free spirited guy and always on the go, to which I laughed and thought to myself, “I will probably never see him again.” This ended up being semi-true!

We didn’t speak or see each other for about 6 months, (turns out he was only in Greenville once after we first met). After some time had passed, we randomly ran into each other again, through Alejandra who was hosting her birthday party, which sparked our entire relationship. Other friends of ours suggested he come talk to me again, and we had the best time and conversation together. After that night, we spent almost every moment together, and I knew he was the one…as cheesy as it sounds. We went to Mexico together, after a little over a month of dating, to celebrate my friends wedding. As we were walking back to our resort one night, we popped into a bar, ordered a shot of tequila, looked at each other, laughed, and said, “I think we love each other.” Its’s a night we will never forget, and always puts a smile on our faces. For that reason, Mexico holds a special place in our hearts.

Arlen and I dated for little over two years before he proposed. It was the best, and happiest relationship either of us have ever been in, and it felt so easy. We share so many interests, yet are totally opposites. I worry about EVERYTHING, while Arlen is the most positive person ever! He is forever talking me off the ledge…haha! We started talking about marriage often, but I never expected the engagement when it happened. We went to New York to surprise my best friend for his 30th birthday, but I wanted to celebrate Arlen too, as his Birthday was only in a few days. Arlen is a great photographer and mentioned he wanted to go to Brooklyn to take photos of the Manhattan skyline. I kept telling him we didn’t have time to go into BK, then back into Manhattan. It was going to be rainy and cold, but he said it was something he wanted to do, and he really wanted to meet up with an old friend to take photos. He convinced me the photos would be worth it, so we met his friend, who ended up asking if she could take photos of us for her portfolio.

The thought crossed my mind he was going to propose as we moved from spot to spot, but I kept telling myself it was too good to be true. It was just about to get dark, when she said she had one more shot. We climbed out on the rocks under the Brooklyn Bridge, as we were staring at the Manhattan skyline. I had bought him a gift earlier for his birthday, and asked again if he liked his present, just to make small talk as the girl kept shooting us. His eyes lit up, and he said, “I got you a present also.” He then got down on one knee. It is one of the most magical memories we have, and at that moment I would have given anything to freeze time. Our wedding day was nothing short of that as well. There is nothing greater than being surrounded by your family and close friends. It was yet another magical time in our lives :)