Hot Springs native Emily Ratcliff and Little Rock native Grayson Barber are getting hitched! The two met during Emily's freshman year of college on the intramural sand volleyball court. They went on to become great friends. During Emily's senior year, Grayson asked her out on a few dates. The timing wasn't quite right, but a year later Grayson asked her on another date and everything clicked.
After college graduation, Emily moved to Conway for graduate school at UCA and the little saying "distance makes the heart grow fonder" proved itself to be true. Emily says she knew three months into dating that she wanted to marry Grayson.
Here's their engagement story in Emily's words:
"Who knew, after 13 months of dating, we would be ENGAGED! The day he proposed was one of the sweetest gifts from the Lord. What I thought was going to be an early breakfast with my best friends, early service at church with Grayson and a quick picnic lunch before he left town for Greer's Ferry Lake to spend Labor Day with his family, had quite the turn of events.
After getting breakfast with [my friends], I met Grayson for early service at church. Following church we made some peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and hit the road for Gulley Park in Fayetteville to have our picnic. Not long into our picnic, Grayson pulled out a journal and began reading thoughts, emotions and prayers that he had had and prayed throughout our time dating and preparing for engagement.
After reading from the journal, he suggested us going on a walk. There was so much emotion, so much joy and so much love. In the tree-line there was this pretty little bench decorated with a blanket, beautiful flowers and candles and a water basin. As we got to the bench, Grayson asked me to sit down and he began to wash my feet just as Jesus washed his disciples' feet.
Then, he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him and of course I said, 'YES' to the easiest question of my life. It was the most perfect surprise and the most incredible day as we got to spend the rest of the afternoon celebrating with our families and friends. Grayson is the most thoughtful, selfless, respectable man of God and I am ecstatic to be his WIFE!"
Wow is an understatement! We're so excited for Emily and Grayson's big day on March 3rd, 2018, at the Hamp Williams Building in Hot Springs.
