Willy and Katie met at an alley cat bike race that Willy helped organize. They were both sunburned and tired after a long day in the summer sun. On the way to the afterparty, Willy offered to lockup Katie's bike. At the alley cat afterparty, they never left each other's side. They endlessly entertained one other by comparing sunburns & doing front flips on a giant 6 ft wide bean bag. The deal was sealed when Katie invited Willy to Brunch Club hosted at her house the next morning.

After they were dating for only a few months Willy went off to grad school in Lexington Kentucky to receive his master's in bike polo. They endured the long-distance for 2 years thanks to FaceTime Audio & their halfway point, Asheville NC. Every few weeks they would both travel to AVL to meet, explore the town together by bike, pre-game a hike in the Blue Ridge Mountains with a brunch buffet, drink funky sour beers cuddling by the fire pit on Wicked Weed Brewery's patio. After Willy returned to Raleigh, all was right in the world.

After countless bike rides, friend family potlucks, and wonderful times we fast forward to Black Friday (Nov. 23rd, 2018). They were spending Thanksgiving with Willy's extended family in St. Georges Island Florida a magical place where dolphins frequently crest right offshore during sunset just like a scene straight from a damn Lisa Frank 3 ring binder. It was a rather cold & windy day for a walk on the beach, but Willy persisted. (I'm sure you can tell where this is going.) While on their seaside stroll the clouds finally parted for a moment the sun came out while Katie was distracted by a cute floppy-eared puppy, this was Willy's cue. Katie turned around to find Willy on one sandy knee with a ring he had made in his hand. He "popped the question" as they say, and Katie was absolutely stunned. The first phrase she could muster up in her disbelief was "...wait, ... WHAT!?" followed by silence while the rock in her throat dissolved and turned into an extremely happy although very ugly cry. As soon as she regained her ability to speak her answer was "Yes, of course". They celebrated by biking to Paddy's Raw Bar for lunch to feast on local Apalachicola Bay oysters. (The best in the world!) They have since eloped & had a small courthouse wedding in May. Now they can't wait to celebrate with you all, their friend family!