Announcements

Engaged: Nicole Halpin & Parker Pennington

The Couple

It all started with two right swipes on Tinder. With friends in tow, Nicole and Parker met on October 31, 2014 to window shop around the Shops of Legacy.

“Although we had never met before, we picked up the relationship as if we had known each other for years,” said Nicole. “We hit it off and started down the road that brought us here today.”

Nicole studied marketing at Auburn University and is a special events coordinator for the office of development at UT Southwestern Medical Center. Parker studied business economics at Texas Tech University and works as a health and benefits broker and small business consultant at ADP Insurance Agency.

The Proposal

The engagement, however, was more old-fashioned than the dating app that brought them together.

After Parker visited her dad in Mississippi one weekend, Nicole’s dad called her to check in, and casually slipped that Parker had asked for her hand in marriage.

Nicole’s father spilled the beans once again when Parker was making plans to visit Dallas months later. Nicole hadn’t known the reason behind the spontaneous trip. But, plans changed and Parker didn’t propose that weekend. On to Plan B!

Plan B turned out to be a mass email for a supposed dinner for the health representatives from Parker’s administration. Nicole got the email and thought nothing of it.

“Nothing unusual,” said Nicole. “What I didn’t know was that they had sent it to the entire region, just in case I asked someone about the dinner.”

The day that Plan B was in motion was not the day for Nicole. After a stressful day at work, Nicole fought to get out of the dinner, but Parker persuaded her with new shoes.

“As we were walking up there was a bottle of champagne, a photographer and flowers,” said Nicole. “I immediately panicked and told Parker, ‘We need to move, this isn’t for us!’ And he said, “Actually, this is just for you.”

Parker got down on one knee, popped the question and then the champagne. Nicole’s friend, Savanna, asked for the newly engaged couple to celebrate at the Happiest Hour. To Nicole’s surprise, friends and family from all over were waiting there to celebrate.

“There are few times in a person’s life that fate, opportunity, and courage come to play at once to create a moment that can set your life in a completely different direction,” said Nicole. “October 31st of 2014 was one of those moments in both our lives, and November 11th of this year will be the next step in our journey.”

The Wedding

Nicole and Parker will be married November 11, 2017 at the Duff Green Mansion in Vicksburg, Mississippi.

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