Charlie and Ruthie first met in Atlantic Beach as teenagers, but it wasn’t until junior prom that their story truly began. As fate would have it, they walked into the dance not as each other’s dates but left with a memory that would shape their future. Ruthie’s date ran off with Charlie’s date, leaving the two of them unexpectedly paired up on the dance floor. Ruthie took the lead, teaching Charlie how to dance, and from that moment… Charlie was hooked.

Over the next year, they stayed in touch, going on the occasional date, but when spring rolled around and Charlie had to decide who to invite to senior prom at Parrott, only one person came to mind: Miss Brady. Shortly after, life took them in different directions. Charlie headed off to Davidson to focus on school and baseball, while Ruthie began her college journey in Chapel Hill.

After college, Charlie settled in Raleigh to pursue graduate studies, and Ruthie moved to Washington, D.C. Just a year later, Ruthie also landed in Raleigh, unaware that her handsome prom date lived just half a mile away.

Two more years passed before the stars aligned again. When Charlie heard that some of his new Raleigh friends were heading to a wedding at River Dunes, he realized Ruthie would be there as a bridesmaid. He sent a simple message through a friend: “If you see Ruthie Brady, tell her I said hello . . .” The message reached her loud and clear!

When Charlie and Ruthie reconnected, it didn’t take long to see that while years had passed, the spark hadn’t. To Charlie’s amusement, Ruthie was still the witty, confident girl he’d crushed on in high school; to Ruthie’s surprise, Charlie had turned into quite the charming gentleman. They slipped into an easy rhythm, spending weekends trying new restaurants in Raleigh, cruising CanAms through Oxford (with Charlie pointing out which wild berries to taste and which to avoid), trading wins in Rummikub and Gin Rummy (Ruthie was—and still is—more often triumphant), and chasing sunsets by boat on Taylor’s or Hoop Hole Creek. Since then, it’s been shared adventures and simple joys: dogsledding through Canadian snow, celebrating milestones with friends in Oregon, and plenty of back-and-forths between Greenville and Raleigh. They love good food, a great bottle of wine, and long walks wherever they land. Charlie has even adopted one of Ruthie’s favorite traditions: eating Pho for dinner every Sunday night.

Nearly two years later, Charlie got down on one knee and asked Ruthie, his best friend and the love of his life, to marry him. Before saying yes, Ruthie consulted with her best friend, Jo, who emphatically encouraged her to say “yes.” And now, they can’t wait to start this next chapter together, along with their beloved pup.