Just Engaged: Joie and Eric

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Joie's parents absolutely love Eric, and the groom-to-be fits right into the family. "My parents are excited about him officially becoming a part of our family," Joie says. "They love what he stands for. He’s strong in his faith, respectful and family-oriented."

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Eric smothers Joie with sweet gestures always, but there is one time in particular that stands out in her mind. "There are so many gifts he's given me, both big and small, but nothing tops my engagement ring and the ultimate gift of sharing his last name and the commitment of spending a lifetime together," she says.

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"I prayed about Eric long before I met him and I feel that God has truly delivered on everything I’ve ever wanted in a man and more," spills Joie. "Eric brings out the best in me in every way and I know I do the same for him. He has solid Christian values, he’s ambitious, respectful, funny and treats me like a queen."

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There's no such thing as a ring with too many diamonds, and Joie says she absolutely loves her gorgeous Michael B. engagement ring. "It's a round cut diamond ring that features pave diamonds around the band," she reveals. "It is one of the sparkliest and clearest diamonds I’ve seen."

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The next time your friends dare you to try something new, you may want to consider it, ladies. "My friends love Eric; they feel as though I’ve met my true match," says Joie. "My girls still take credit for unknowingly helping me find the love of my life by daring me to post a profile on that dating site.

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What's one thing Joie's most looking forward to about marriage? "I can’t wait to finally be able to see Eric every day and start our new lifelong adventure as husband and wife," she beams.

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Joie says from the moment she met Eric she knew there was something special about him. "He was extremely handsome, well spoken and intelligent," she says, while Eric agrees that he had similar sentiments about her. "He thought I was beautiful and a bit reserved," Joie adds.

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The lovestruck pair enjoy traveling together, going to sports events, exploring new restaurants and generally spending time together. "I enjoy spending our lazy days together," shares Eric. "We like to be able to spend down time together because it gives us time to simply be together. We like to do many activities, but quiet time helps us grow without the distractions that extraneous events can provide."

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Eric and Joie can agree that they aren't just lovers, they're best friends too. "I think he chose to marry me because he found his soul mate," says the beaming bride-to-be.

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Joie describes her man of five years as sexy, intelligent and awesome. "There are so many sexy things about him," she says. "His beautiful brown eyes and his bald head are my favorite."

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Eric says there's so much to love about his lady that he could talk about her for days. "In a sense, you can say I love the combination of all the things that make her uniquely who she is," he says.

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"I’m looking forward to experiencing a whole host of life’s firsts with my bride-to-be," says Eric. "Marriage is a new adventure we’re both looking forward to embarking on as one." The lovely couple will wed this October in a tropical destination wedding in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Eric will then whisk his woman away on a romantic tour of France, starting in Paris and ending in Monte Carlo. Want to see your engagement photos featured in Just Engaged? Email us now!