How We Met
Link and I met in 2015 through mutual friends. We saw each other at birthdays and dinners, but we have very different personalities. Link is quiet (until you get to know him) and I am very loud, so we didn’t spend much time together until summer 2017. The two of us went to dinner with another friend, and it was the first time I spent quality time with Link. Right away, I realized he was one of the funniest people I had ever met and I was excited to spend more time with him. We discovered we lived in the same apartment building and we made a “date” to hang out while our other friends when to a Travis Scott concert.
Link asked me to be his girlfriend on a date night in Los Angeles and I said yes!
In March 2019, we moved into our first apartment together down the street from where we both used to live.
We’ve traveled to Europe and been to multiple states together. Last year, he watched me graduate from college and was my biggest supporter. He always made sure I did my homework!
We spent the entire pandemic together and it brought us closer together. I baked countless loaves of bread and he learned how to crochet. We watched old movies and cartoons and spent our days doing puzzles.
Link is still the funniest person I’ve ever met and he constantly makes me laugh. He is my best friend and my rock and I’m beyond excited for this next chapter of our lives together.
How They Asked
In March 2021, Link and I got an 8 week-old Goldendoodle puppy named Remington (Remy for short). We wanted to take pictures with him before he got too big, so I suggested we take our Christmas card photos for the year. My friend is a photographer and lives right on the water in Sunset Beach, CA. She graciously offered to take our photos with the puppy at the end of April. This was the first time we had taken photos or dressed up in over a year because of the pandemic, so I made sure to get my hair done and I got a spray tan so I would look good for the photos!
In February of 2021, we had looked at engagement rings in Los Angeles because I wanted to be part of the process and Link wanted me to pick out the ring that I liked best. I picked two rings I loved and told Link he could make the final decision because they were both perfect. I had a feeling we would get engaged before the end of this year, but I had no idea when it would actually happen. I thought that proposing while we had our pictures taken would be the perfect time and place, but when I brought it up to him, he told me it wouldn’t happen for at least 90 days, so I stopped asking.
I had lime green French tip nails and about two hours before we were supposed to get photos taken, Link suggested we go get our nails done. I didn’t think anything of it especially because I desperately needed a manicure. I drove us to my friend, Kendra’s, house in Sunset Beach, which is about 25 minutes from where we live. She was ready to take our pictures so we went to their grassy backyard which backs up to the beach. Kendra took a few test shots to make sure the lighting was good for our pictures. We took a few silly pictures with the dog before taking some more serious ones. After a few photos, Link thought Remy was chewing on something so he bent down to see what was in his mouth. He got on one knee and before I could comprehend what was happening, he got on one knee and was pulling a little black box out of his jacket pocket. I think he told me how much he loved me and that he wanted to spend his life with me but I honestly can’t remember because I blacked out while he was talking. I was so excited and nervous and shocked all at the same time!
(I tackled him because I was so happy!!)
Kendra took the most amazing pictures of our proposal, which I will cherish forever. Her husband, Luke, had set his phone up in the window of their house to record the entire proposal, so we have the whole video, as well.
We took a million more photos and videos and put a bandana on Remy that said: “She Said Yes!” (which he hated). Kendra’s parents congratulated and hugged us and one of her neighbors hooted and hollered for us too!
After the proposal, Link said he was taking me to a nice dinner just the two of us. I was still shaking so he drove us while I called both our families and our closest friends. I wasn’t paying attention and had another surprise when we pulled up to one of my favorite parks in Corona del Mar, CA and all my incredible friends were there to surprise and congratulate us! With Link’s help, they set up a beautiful celebration in the park with cake and charcuterie boards. We took even more photos to commemorate this perfect day, and I’ve never felt so loved.
April 24th, 2021 was the best day and I feel so lucky to spend the rest of my life with my person. I am so excited to marry him on August 28th, 2022, and begin our lives as a married couple!
#katiefoundhermissinglink #keepingupwiththecartwrights
(My amazing photographer Kendra!)
(A few pictures of me and my best gals!)