It was the summer of 2015, and fate showed up in the form of an extra country concert ticket. Brandon and his friends were headed to Stage AE in Pittsburgh when a mutual friend invited Tricia along at the last minute. She said yes, met them at Brandon’s Mom’s house, and squeezed into a car—setting the stage for a just-under-two-hour drive filled with nonstop bickering. Yes, the very first day they met, they argued the entire way there. Romance at its finest.

Luckily, country music, dancing, and a few drinks smoothed things over once they arrived. After the show, the group made a classic late-night McDonald’s stop. Tricia—vegan at the time—confidently ordered a Big Mac with no meat and an orange Coke (which does not exist) something Brandon still has not let her live down. Later, while “waiting” at a red light for an impressively long time, she asked, “How long is this red light?” Brandon, barely holding it together, replied, “We’re parked in the parking lot,” and laughed all the way home.

Over the next year, they stayed friends, crossing paths in social settings until one unforgettable night brought them closer. After a friend’s band played at a local bar—the two spent the night catching up by the fire before Tricia offered Brandon a ride home. One thing led to another, and they ended up talking until 2 a.m. on Brandon’s back patio about absolutely everything. Too late (and too tipsy) to drive home, Brandon offered Tricia his bed and took the couch—true gentleman behavior.

Feeling brave after their night of deep conversation, Brandon took his shot… and missed. Tricia wasn’t ready for a relationship yet. But timing has a funny way of working itself out. A few months later, the two found themselves at another concert—Blink-182 and All Time Low, their favorite bands.

This time, the spark stuck. They started talking consistently, and by September 26, 2016, they officially became a couple.

Eight years, two big moves (Houston and Nashville), countless concerts, and endless debates later, Brandon finally popped the question on Christmas Day 2024. They’ll celebrate 10 years of dating just before saying “I do” on October 17, 2026. After a decade-long love story, one thing remains true: these two lovebirds still haven’t stopped arguing—and wouldn’t have it any other way. 💕