Our Love Story
NOVEMBER 2014
It all started when fate brought Courtney’s dad Preston and Tai’s stepdad Nick together. Of all places, they met on a hunting trip in Northern Canada. Sharing a tiny tent on top of a mountain in sub-zero temperatures, they quickly developed a close bond. Their friendship continued to grow after the trip, and Nick visited the Farriors in Tampa on multiple occasions.
AUGUST 2017
Fast forward – Courtney, her roommate Kat, and the Farriors head off to Nassau for an end of summer trip to visit Nick and the mysterious stepson Tai (who the Farriors had not yet met). Upon landing in Nassau, there was a barefoot Tai at the airport, welcoming the family to the country in a classic Bahamian style.
Courtney and Tai immediately hit it off. Tai claims he was into her the second he saw her step off the plane, while Courtney’s interest sparked later that day watching Tai interact with her dad on the boat. Tai spent the day showing Preston all the fishing spots on the navigational charts and walking him through the ins-and-outs of Bahamian fishing.
It was dinner at Nobu where things were solidified for Courtney and Tai, though. They were sitting at a large round table of 20, but according to Courtney “It felt like no one else was in the room.” They spent the entire dinner in their own world getting to know each other and bonded over their mutual love of food (amongst many other things). The night consisted of dancing at Aura and many laughs, but the bliss was cut short when Courtney and her family had to leave the very next day. She was devastated that he did not kiss her goodbye at the airport drop off (of course not, both of their families were there)! They kept in touch, facetiming and texting daily.
AUGUST 2017
Courtney went back to Nashville for the start of her Junior year at Vanderbilt. It was later during that first week of school when Courtney was a few glasses of wine deep during a facetime & suggested Tai fly in to visit her. Without hesitation he booked a flight mid-facetime and arrived in Nashville the following day. Both Courtney and Tai were full of nerves, worried if the only reason they liked each other was because of the blissful vacation mindset they had had in the Bahamas. Nonetheless, the visit went incredibly well and he ended up visiting again the following weekend. This was when they officially started dating.
SEPTEMBER 2017
Tai’s Sophomore year at Stanford started up, and Courtney flew to California to visit him. They confessed their mutual love and talked about their future together that weekend. Everyone else thought they were crazy asking: “how can you be so sure you will be together forever after only knowing each other for only a month?” But when you know, you know.
Three and a half years of long distance followed, with Courtney and Tai never living in the same time zone. Facing adversity when Courtney left for Florence to study abroad, their love never wavered and they pushed through the undoubtedly tough period of their loving relationship.
In their first summer together, they traveled on a “world tour” where Courtney was to meet Tai’s extended family. First was meeting Gramps in Cape Town, then to Hong Kong to meet Por Por and Gung Gung. Tai’s family came from very different cultures and backgrounds than Courtney’s own, but she began seeing all the parts that make Tai who he is.
Courtney and Tai were incredibly lucky to continue traveling the world together including visits to Austria, Costa Rica, Croatia, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Kenya, London, Puerto Rico, South Africa, Spain, St. Barts, and The Maldives… just to name a few.
Long distance finally came to an end when Courtney and Tai moved to Austin, Texas. Living together for the first time, they began seeing how compatible their everyday lives were. They paved their way in a new city together and raised their beautiful Golden Retriever–Xuma.
JANUARY 2021
APRIL 2023
Courtney and Tai bought a house together and made the big move down to Tampa. Courtney’s family was very happy to have her home, and as an added benefit it was perfect to be just over an hour away from the Bahamas (as a pilot, Tai can fly himself home for a last minute trip whenever he wants!) This was a major step in their happily ever after.
FEBRUARY 24, 2024
Tai flew Courtney to Nassau for one of those “last minute” trips. They took a romantic stroll on the beach in Albany, where Tai proposed to Courtney!! (Rumor has it he was so nervous, that he asked Courtney “will you be my husband?”) The rest was history and their story continues to grow, evolve, and flourish. They are ecstatic to have each and every one of you joining the celebration and adding to this beautiful love story as they start their next chapter as husband and wife.
