Our Story
Chase and Tate’s adventure began in early 2018 at The University of Tennessee during a recruiting event for the Center for Leadership and Service’s alternative break program. Tate made the decision to sign up for Chase’s trip after some convincing from Chase. Throughout their week of service, reflection, and activities in Chicago, they easily connected over their many shared interests and Tennessee roots. In the weeks that followed, their friendship quickly grew, and they soon found themselves spending all their free time together: late night conversations in Brown Hall, spontaneous trips to Dairy Queen, floating excursions at the Fort Dickerson Quarry, and Chase faking an interest in Tate’s guilty pleasure show, Forensic Files. What started as an effortless friendship quickly turned into something more as they each took mutual steps to reveal their true feelings for one another. Their first official date involved a morning hike in the Smokies followed by an afternoon of excitement at the one-and-only Dollywood. They took their first real trip together to Cedar Point, where Tate first recognized that he was in love with Chase.
Conducted in relative secrecy over the first few months, their relationship grew both privately and, eventually, publicly with the full support of their families and friends. Chase helped Tate get his academics and goals realigned for the better, and Tate started architecture school soon after they started dating. Chase learned to loosen up a little as Tate pushed him to be more spontaneous and creative in life. They both graduated from UT, Chase in 2019 and Tate in 2022.
They share a mutual love for (budget) traveling, amusement parks, national parks, hiking, reading, aviation, cars, ABBA, Maggie Rogers, trivia, pizza, breweries, and overpriced cocktail bars. They have been privileged to visit a lot of amazing places over the years, and they are always searching for and planning for their next great adventure. They love exploring the world, trying new things together, and pushing each other to grow every day. Both stubborn and particular, their love for each other keeps them in line.
On October 2nd, 2022, Chase proposed to Tate at Black Balsam Knob off of the Blue Ridge Parkway after a multi-day scavenger hunt. They currently live together in a tiny apartment in Midtown Memphis. Tate works as a junior architect alongside an amazing group of friends, and Chase is in his fourth year of medical school preparing for residency next fall. They cannot wait to see where the next chapter takes them and are so excited to celebrate their special day with the people they love most.
See you soon!