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Brian and I met in high school. I was 16 and he was 17. I loved going to baseball games, and when we would play Brian’s school, I would always say, “Who is number 12? He is so handsome!” Little did I know, our moms went to high school together. My mom, a hairstylist, started doing Brian’s mom’s hair. They thought it would be a great idea to introduce us. They hit that ball right out of the park! I couldn’t believe he was number 12 on that baseball team! We’ve had each other’s hearts ever since. We are true high school sweethearts.

It was Christmas Eve 2009. Brian and I have spent many Christmases together, so we have a routine down. We go to my grandmother’s, then his Aunt Lynn’s, then the candlelight service at our church and finally we exchange gifts at my house. This year, everything went as usual – the only difference is that his mom and step-dad came back to my parents’ house to “exchange gifts” with my parents.

Brian wanted to go first with our families watching and his step-dad rolled out his video camera (which is totally normal). Brian handed me a box. Inside was a tag for my car, a “house divided” tag since I’m a hardcore Duke fan and he bleeds Carolina blue. Also inside the box was a clue that read, “Nice tag, babe, I like it, I do say, ‘Wow.’ Now your next gift can be found resting with the towels.”

Before I knew it I was on a full-blown scavenger hunt. Each clue would be taped inside the box with where I should go. They all rhymed and were so cute. I was told to open my last present facing the tree.

When I opened the box, inside was a grape ring pop. Brian and I would talk about the kind of ring I wanted. He would always joke, “What about a grape ring pop?” and I would always joke back, “As long as it’s grape!”

So when it all registered and I finally caught on to what was going on, I whipped around and saw Brian on one knee with our families standing behind him just a-grinning. And of course, I said, “YES!”

Christmas is by far our favorite holiday and our engagement now gives us one more reason to love the holiday even more. I was so surprised and caught off-guard. He did an amazing job!

Brittany and Brian were married on April 30, 2011.

Continue reading real wedding stories! Up next: ’Family ties’