Karrie and Joey met while working together at West Marine, where they felt a mutual spark. However, at that time, neither was ready for a relationship. Karrie worked part-time on the truck crew, while Joey was on the wholesale side of the company. They engaged in small talk for several months, and when Joey discovered that Karrie was single—and that he was single as well—he began to initiate more conversations with her. Eventually, Karrie took the initiative to connect through Snapchat. Karrie and Joey had their first date at Vicious Biscuit for breakfast. When he picked her up at her home, he thought she looked beautiful as she walked down the steps to meet him, a moment he always remembers fondly. While waiting in line, they noticed a little girl admiring the window display of a children's store. Karrie then asked Joey if he wanted kids, which caught him off guard but sparked his interest in getting to know her better. After breakfast, they ran errands together, and when Joey took her home, he met her mom and chatted with her for a bit. Before leaving, they shared their first kiss.
When it was time for Joey to propose, he devised the perfect surprise plan. He contacted one of Karrie's best friends months in advance to choose a weekend for her and her family to come visit. He also spoke with Karrie’s mom to organize a surprise engagement party afterward. Joey took Karrie and her friends out on the boat to their favorite beach. Although there were a few hiccups along the way—hats flew off during the boat ride, and he and Karrie were not synchronized when anchoring the boat on the beach—things eventually settled down. Karrie remarked that she had no idea what Joey's problem was at first, only to later realize it was just his nerves. As soon as they arrived at the beach, their puppy Bodie was excitedly trying to get into the seaweed, which distracted Karrie while Joey dropped down on one knee. Unbeknownst to her, friends had gathered around to witness the moment, and one was even filming it. Karrie thought she had inadvertently stepped into the frame of someone’s Snapchat. When she noticed Joey on one knee, her first reaction was, “Why are you doing this here?” She had always believed he wanted to propose in a private setting, but he knew she would appreciate the moment in front of loved ones. After the proposal, they spent the afternoon enjoying the beach and the boat ride. On the way home, Joey handed her a koozie that had the details of the engagement party. Karrie asked, “Whose party is this?” Then Joey revealed the surprise engagement party he had planned for them, including invitations sent to their close family and friends. Karrie was shocked and had no idea he had been planning this for over six months.
When asked what they love about each other, Karrie shares that she admires Joey's motivation, which initially drew her to him. He goes out of his way to take care of her, surprising her and showing his love through both little and big gifts that make her feel special. Karrie appreciates how he is always willing to try new things with her, even if he approaches them with some hesitance. He consistently makes her feel beautiful and frequently reassures her of his love. Karrie values Joey's passion for new interests, how they can engage in playful banter, and the priority he places on family. He goes above and beyond to support them. Joey is forgiving of her mistakes, patient, and honest, qualities that Karrie deeply appreciates. She is proud of how hardworking he is and finds him incredibly handsome when he comes home after a long day. Joey has a talent for making her laugh with his funny antics, and she treasures the forehead kisses he gives when she presses her forehead against him. He is the first person she wants to share news with, even when it’s bad because he always listens attentively.
Joey believes that Karrie has a heart of gold; she always sees the good in people, no matter what. These qualities are hard to find these days, and Karrie helps keep him focused! Sometimes, Joey feels reluctant to do what she asks of him, but deep down, he knows she has the best of intentions. Her smile can light up any room, and Joey feels it is his job to keep that smile on her face—he accepts that responsibility every day as soon as he gets out of bed. One moment that stands out to him is their first outing on the boat. He got so sunburned that his back blistered. Despite the early stages of their relationship, rather than blaming him, Karrie stepped up and took great care of him. He appreciates how she is always willing to lend a hand, and family is very important to her, a value they both share strongly. Karrie is the first person he wants to call, text, or chat with. Every night before they go to sleep, they discuss their day and ask each other about their favorite moments. Joey says that most of the time, his favorite part is simply coming home to her loving embrace and receiving a sweet kiss. They always make time for this conversation before falling asleep. Karrie cherishes the little things in life; she knows that it doesn't always have to be big and fancy to hold special meaning. Joey feels that without a doubt, he has found his best friend and lover all in one person. Together, they live, learn, and laugh—what more could anyone ask for?
Together you can find these two outdoors on the boat, cooking and trying new adventurous recipes, laying on the couch watching shows, and visiting their family cabin in the mountains. They love to try new restaurants and new foods, go to their favorite brewery, Low Tide, and of course tailgate at Clemson home games! They also enjoy competing with their Boykin Spaniel, Bodie in hunt tests and field trials together. They also got a new puppy recently, an English Field Cocker Spaniel named Clyde, for Karrie to be able to train and compete as well!
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