How did you two meet?
Darby: "Brandon and I were set up through a mutual friend after we followed each other on social media. A great friend from my hometown, who was also in my college sorority, was dating Brandon’s best friend from growing up. She devised this master plan to set us up. I was living in Dallas, TX at the time, and he had just moved back to Auburn. I will never forget where I was when Brandon texted me introducing himself, and asking if he could take me out to dinner the next time I was back home in Auburn. We texted for about a week, and then Brandon finally got the courage to call me-- haha! We talked for hours that night-- pretty sure I did not go to sleep until 2 a.m. From then on, we talked every night until we finally were able to meet in person. Our first date was the SEC championship game in December 2017. Brandon met me, and 30 seconds later met my parents, friends and family friends. I was NERVOUS to say the least. My family/friends are the best, but can definitely be overwhelming-- ha! Brandon was not phased and jumped right in; I loved that. He didn’t mind my yelling at the game and giggled at my mini bottles in my purse. Our first kiss was after an Auburn touchdown during the game that day, and I am pretty sure neither of us meant to do it-- it just came so naturally. War Eagle to that?? The next day, we went to brunch before I had to fly back to Dallas. I will never forget Brandon asking if he could pray over our food. I was in shock-- the man that I had dreamed about and prayed for so long may have been sitting next to me, holding my hand and blessing our food. Turns out, he was, and I thank the Lord every single day for him!"
Brandon: "Well it’s kind of a funny start to a lifelong relationship, but looking back on it I would not change it for the world. I knew of Darby throughout college. We were even at some of the same parties, but it just so happened that our paths never crossed. Fast forward four years after college, my best friend’s wife filled me in on her because they were really close friends back home as well. She gave me her number, and once I got up enough courage to finally reach out and give her a call, it was all fireworks from there. We talked every night until we both physically could not keep our eyes open any longer, haha. I was trying to figure out the best time to ask her on our first date, and it just so happens that she is a die-hard Auburn football fan like myself. Auburn was going to the SEC championship in Atlanta in December of 2017, so I thought that would be the perfect first date for us to go on. I got us tickets and needless to say it was a day that I will always hold dear to my heart until the day that I die. That same day when I got to the stadium to meet her, she failed to mention that I would be meeting her ENTIRE family as well as all of their closest friends. I dove right in and it was so easy because they are some of the best people you will ever meet!"
What are some things y'all like to do together?
Darby: "We love to spend time with our family and friends, cook, travel and exercise. Our family and friends are both so loving and supportive, and we always have the best time making memories with them. We are both foodies and enjoy going to restaurants but also love being in the kitchen trying to recreate Chinese takeout and tacos (Defined Dish is our girl) or baking sweets. Speaking of sweets, we have the biggest sweet tooth collectively as a couple probably EVER. We also have a giant puppy dog, Saint, that we love spending time with. We both have a bucket list of places we want to travel. In fact, the beginning of our relationship sparked by us realizing we both had wanderlust and the desire to travel the world. Exercising is something we often do together as well, whether it’s a walk outside with Saint, a run to Toomer’s Corner or a trip to the gym-- this is how we validate all those sweets :)"
How and when did Brandon propose?
Darby: "We had a beach trip planned for the last weekend of December 2019 to Hollin Graham’s beach house (the girl who set us up!) for her birthday. I was so excited to celebrate Hollin and also because my best friend, Hannah Martin, and her husband were coming too. Friday night we stayed in and drank wine while playing cards. Saturday it was rainy, so we went to brunch and watched football all day. Patrick had made reservations for Hollin’s birthday dinner that night at Ruth’s Chris (or so I thought), so we started getting ready late that afternoon. I was the first one ready, so I went out into the living room to catch the rest of the LSU game. When I came out, the boys finally decided to get up and get ready. Brandon came out a few minutes later and looked beyond handsome. He sat down beside me and told me how beautiful I looked and asked if I wanted to go outside to watch the sunset. Of course, I agreed and out to the balcony we went. We stood against the railing looking out into the ocean, and Brandon began telling me how crazy he was about me and how devoted he was to taking care of me every single day for the rest of our lives. My heart was racing, and butterflies were swarming inside of me, and I was trying so hard to soak up the moment and take in everything he was saying. Tears welled up in my eyes and the next thing I knew he was down on one knee asking me to be his wife. I was ecstatic!! That moment is truly the happiest moment I have felt on this earth. I squeezed my eyes shut and took a picture in my mind of a moment and a feeling that I will never ever forget."
Brandon: "Darby had her mind made up that she wanted to be engaged before the end of December 2019. She was all over me about making sure I knew that! It was so funny because as the year wound down and all of these holidays kept passing by, you could tell that she would get more and more eager/frustrated that it had not happened yet-- haha! Little did she know that I had the perfect plan in mind so that she would have no idea when to expect it. I bought the ring at the beginning of December and it was absolutely burning a hole in my pocket because I wanted to give it to her so bad. Darby and I went to the beach to Hollin and Patrick Graham’s beach condo along with Hannah and Hayes Martin. We also planned for Darby’s mom and sister to show up as a surprise as soon as the question had been popped to participate in the festivities! It was kind of an overcast day that Saturday, so we went to brunch as a group earlier in the morning and came back to the condo to watch football for the rest of the day. We told Darby that Patrick had a very nice dinner reserved so we could all go out and celebrate Hollin’s birthday which was earlier that week. Little did she know that she would be getting ready for a night that she had been dreaming of since she was a little girl. The girls spent most of the afternoon getting ready for 'the very nice dinner' we had plotted-- haha. As soon as they were done, I went to go get ready myself. I had to keep myself calm because the time kept getting closer to go time and my heart started beating faster and faster. I came out and asked Darby if she would come out on the balcony with me. Hayes had his camera ready to go just as we had planned. The sun started coming out the moment we walked out there, and everything just lined up perfectly. I started speaking from my heart and as soon as I got closer to asking her to marry me, I felt a couple tears entering my eyes. Everything finally set in for me at that point and it was a night I will never forget."
Brandon-- describe Darby in three words:
Brandon: "Wow, I don’t really know if three words could do her justice. She is so many things to me, but if I had to choose it would be caring, loyal and passionate. Darby, in everything that she does, considers me and my feelings. The fact that she takes that into account means the absolute world to me. Her loyalty to me is unmatched. Just knowing that she always has my back no matter what gives me all the strength that I need to do anything I set my mind to! Darby’s passion towards life in general is something that is very special to me. Seeing that each and every day gives me the drive and energy to go and be the very best that I can be as well. It starts with her job. She is a speech and language pathologist for children, and it takes someone with a special heart to be able to withstand the obstacles that she has to deal with day in and day out. What I think of Darby goes far beyond those three words. She means the absolute world to me, and I would not be where I am today without her and her love! I am forever grateful that God has sent such an angel for me to spend the rest of my life with. I cannot wait to experience so many more seasons of life with her by side every step of the way because without her, none of it would be meaningful. I have been so blessed with so many great family and friends throughout my life, but to have finally found my soulmate I feel like my life is far more complete!"
Darby-- describe Brandon in three words:
Darby: "That is HARD. Brandon is so many things. If I had to choose three, I would say faithful, supportive and hard working. He is faithful first and foremost to God. He puts God at the center of our relationship and has led me closer to God in these past 2.5 years than I have ever been before. Brandon is also faithful to me. The love I feel from him is unlike any other love I have ever felt in my whole life. I know that he is and always will be committed to me, to us and to our family (one day). Brandon is also supportive not only to me, but to everyone in his life. The encouragement that I see him offer emotionally, physically and mentally to me, he also offers to his family and friends and that is inspiring. I don’t know how I made it through 24 years of life without his constant encouragement and words of affirmation. Not a day goes by that I don’t hear how proud he is of me; how much he believes in me; and how much he loves me. Last but not least, Brandon is the hardest working person I have ever met next to my dad. They are so alike in so many ways, and I think that is so special. Brandon spends every day at work committed to bettering people’s quality of life. He was not handed anything, but has earned everything, and I respect that so much. Brandon gives his best to every task that is laid in front of him and works tirelessly to provide for us. Brandon is the best person I have ever known. He is not any few things, he is everything."
