Grace and Ryan’s story began with a sweet high school moment that neither of them could have predicted would lead here. Ryan initially asked Grace to be his prom date, but a few weeks later, he added a twist—saying he’d only go if she agreed to be his girlfriend. Without hesitation, Grace said yes.

Grace was the first to head off to Florida State University, with Ryan joining her there later. Grace loved college life so much that she stayed an extra year (her parents were thrilled), which led to Ryan graduating a semester before Grace. Grace began her career, dedicating herself to building her and her mom's salon and boutique, creating a strong brand and an online presence that has successfully shipped to every state in the U.S., while Ryan started applying to medical schools, taking the next steps toward his dream.

Through every phase of life, Grace and Ryan have shared an effortless bond. Their relationship has always been built on mutual understanding and friendship, making them each other's best friends from the very beginning. Grace got her dog, Blanche, Ryan started medical school at Florida State, and their weekends together became a much-needed escape. Ryan’s schedule was packed with study time, especially when he moved to Pensacola for his final two years of medical school at FSU’s regional campus. Grace quickly grew to love Pensacola too, spending her weekends soaking up the sun on the beach (Ryan isn’t much of a beach fan, so coincidentally, his studies always seemed most pressing whenever the UV index hit 8 or higher) When Ryan could go to the beach with Grace, he would sit under a big tent with his laptop and study. These aren’t ideal studying situations, but it’s just one of the many ways Ryan’s selflessness and unwavering support shine through, which Grace loves most about him.

In their free time, Grace and Ryan love trying new restaurants, going on coffee dates, working out together, watching movies, binge-watching TV shows, taking Blanche on walks, and heading out downtown for a fun night with friends. They’re all about spending quality time together, whether it’s enjoying each other’s company at home or out exploring new places. Grace knew the proposal had to come any weekend, but Ryan loves to procrastinate and wanted to make sure it was the perfect moment for Grace.

The perfect moment came during a weekend trip to Chicago, with the help of Grace’s best friend, Ellory. Ryan couldn’t have pulled it off without her! Ellory helped coordinate the surprise and kept Grace completely in the dark. In typical Grace fashion, as soon as Ryan got down on one knee, she couldn’t let him finish his sentence before she started yelling, “YES!” One of the sweetest parts of the proposal was calling all of their family and friends afterward and seeing their emotional reactions.

After the proposal, Ellory treated Grace and Ryan to a fabulous engagement dinner at Bavette's, where they celebrated the big moment. The following day, Ellory spoiled them even more by getting a congratulations message up on the jumbotron at the Chicago Bulls game! Grace is still in shock that the cute boy from high school is going to be her HUSBAND!! They are so blessed to have the very best people in their lives, and they can’t wait to start this next chapter together.

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