A Spring Backyard Engagement Session | Thurmond, NC
How did you two meet?
Sarah: “We both grew up in a small town so we’ve known each other since elementary school. Hayden was actually in my grandma’s 1st-grade class! We were in the same group of friends throughout grade school but didn’t become close until sophomore year when we sat together in Geometry. Hayden asked me to go to the Homecoming dance as friends and it took off from there!”
What was it like early in your relationship?
Sarah: “The beginning of our relationship was filled with your typical high school experiences – dances, sporting events, and spending our weekends with friends. Maybe getting into some trouble here and there! After graduation, we spent college apart at Appalachian and UNCC. There’s no telling the countless 2-hour drives we made to see one another, even if it were for only for the day. After graduation, we made our way back together and now live in Charlotte!”
“Hayden had brought a blanket and a bottle of wine for us to enjoy on the beach while watching the sunset before our reservations. Thinking nothing of it, I followed him and hiked up to the cliff to get the best view.”
Proposal story?
Sarah: “We love to travel and were excited to book a trip in November of 2018 to the Hawaiian island Kauai. We spent the day into the first night exploring Kauai and running across waterfalls and beautiful scenery. We found a spot we both fell in love with, Shipwreck Beach, with incredible views of the beach and Na Pali Coast. We spent the next few days taking boat rides, exploring and hiking the coast. I made reservations at a restaurant that happened to be right on Shipwreck Beach for the 5th night. Hayden had brought a blanket and a bottle of wine for us to enjoy on the beach while watching the sunset before our reservations. Thinking nothing of it, I followed him and hiked up to the cliff to get the best view. After sitting and talking for a few minutes, he asked me to stand up for a photo and dropped down on one knee! It couldn’t have been a more perfect evening. He had an additional surprise-it was my grandmother’s diamond ring very secretly given to him by my grandfather which made it that much more special!
Hayden: “What Sarah didn’t mention is that I had set-up our GoPro to catch the entire moment in the beginning but sure enough when I was setting it up the tripod broke … smh. It all worked out though!”
“She has helped me strive to be someone who I picture to be the perfect dad or the perfect role model amongst friends and peers. She’s been able to do that because she is that, the exact counterpart to where/who I want to be.”
Name one thing you love about each other.
Sarah: “Hayden has an incredible ability of making everyone he meets and surrounds himself with feel welcomed and important. He connects with others so easily and never meets anyone he doesn’t immediately find a connection with and consider a friend. He brightens every room he walks into and is constantly keeping me laughing, teaching me to slow down and enjoy each and every small moment.”
Hayden: “So much to say about Sarah. It’s impossible to say that there is just one thing I love about this girl. She is motivated, driven in her passions, loving and kind. But one of the things that I can say I love the most about my girl is her heart. Sarah has taught me how to love those who don’t deserve to be loved, how to care for those you may not care for and to show kindness to all strangers. She has helped me strive to be someone who I picture to be the perfect dad or the perfect role model amongst friends and peers. She’s been able to do that because she is that, the exact counterpart to where/who I want to be. So my favorite thing about Sarah is how she loves.”
Any funny stories?
Sarah: “In the early stages of our relationship we went to Hayden’s Nana’s house for a Christmas gathering. I was still getting to know everyone at this point. Hayden offered me a cookie he kept raving about in front of everybody in the kitchen. I took a bite and it was a cookie his Nana had put shellac on for Christmas decor years ago. It tasted horrible and I immediately spit it out in front of everyone. Needless to say, I was embarrassed but we all got a great laugh out of it! It took quite a while to trust food coming from Hayden’s recommendations for a long time!”
