How did you two meet?
Hollin: "I met Patrick one night when I was out with all of my friends at Otey's Tavern. I remember my guy friends talking to Patrick and wondering who that cute boy was that they were all talking to. After getting a good 'talking up' by my girls and a teeeeny bit of liquid courage, I ended up waving Patrick over to where we were all sitting. We ended up talking outside at a table the rest of the night. It was then that Patrick asked me out on our first date, which ended up being a wedding that I was attending the next night and from there on it was history."
Patrick: "We met through mutual friends one Friday at Oteys Tavern. As soon as I walked in, I immediately asked a buddy of mine, Adam Manning, 'Man, who is that girl over there? You’ve got to introduce me.' Not too long after the introduction, I was already asking to take her on a date the following day. However, she said she couldn’t because was going to wedding. Without hesitation, I asked, 'Well, do you have a date?' We went to the wedding together for our first date, and she wore a pink dress that made my jaw drop. I’ve been hooked ever since."
What are some things y'all like to do together?
Hollin: "Feasting on Mexican food (at least three times a week...until the wedding diet, haha). We also love watching movies together, going on walks around our new neighborhood, and playing with our sweet Pippa girl."
How and when did Patrick propose?
Hollin: "It was my birthday, the day after Christmas, and we had been to my hometown to celebrate with my family. I remember riding back to Birmingham jamming out and singing to music together (which I later found out we did because P was so nervous, hehe). Patrick had told me that we were going out for dinner, so when we got back I was getting ready and Patrick left to go pick up my birthday cake. I remember when he got back he told me he wanted me to go ahead and open my gift. I came out into the living room, and he had a BIG bag full of tissue paper sitting on the coffee table. I started tearing through all the paper because I was convinced he had gotten me a new purse, and I was so excited! I remember I kept looking and looking in the bag hoping to find something and Patrick was like, "Hollin, there's not anything in there." In that moment, I kind of had an idea, and my heart immediately started beating out of my chest. I then turned around to see Patrick kneeling on one knee with the ring in his hand. I honestly don't think I even said anything for about a solid minute because I was definitely doing the ugly cry and later finally managed to get out a, 'YES.' I remember Patrick saying, "This is way better than that Chanel purse, huh?" He had lined up to surprise me with both of our families and close friends at Avo & Dram after to celebrate. It couldn't have been any more perfect!"
Patrick: "I proposed on her birthday, the day after Christmas. My famous quote that I told her was, 'Celebrating the day of the life that changed mine.' Yet, I was more nervous than I had ever been in my life. We had just gotten back to Birmingham from celebrating Christmas in Muscle Shoals with her family. I had told her I had gotten her a birthday present and made dinner reservations for us. I gave her a big gift bag with just tissue paper inside, and I was on a knee with the ring behind her while she was looking through the bag. It felt like I was on a knee for an eternity, and I finally said, “Hollin there’s nothing in the bag sweetheart-- turn around.” The waterworks began, and she said yes. We celebrated after with both of our families and friends at Dram afterword."
Patrick--what's one of the things you admire most about Hollin?
Patrick: “She’s my sunshine. I love everything about her, and she makes me a better person. Her smile will light up a room, and she’s got the best personality of anyone that I’ve ever met. She’s got the biggest heart, and the saying, 'She’s beautiful inside and out' couldn’t be more true about Hollin. She’s loved by everyone, she works so hard and she’s brilliant. I don’t deserve her, and I’m honestly the luckiest guy in the world."
Hollin-- what's one of the things you admire most about Patrick?
Hollin: "Patrick has the biggest heart of anyone I've ever met. He loves so hard and cares about others so much. If I've ever had a bad day or a long day at work, Patrick will go out of his way to bring me up, and put that smile right back on my face. I'll never forget losing my first dog and of course the next second-- P was buying me a ticket to the zoo to try and turn my day around. He is always putting others before himself and is the definition of selfless-- I admire that so much about him. Patrick brings out the very best in me, and when I'm with him I am the happiest girl in the world."
