Before NaToya met Joey, she was less than impressed with most other guys. "My past dating life was pretty much nonexistent," she says. "I never really met anyone that caught my attention quite like Joey."
Although she's younger than Joey, he still saw her for who she was. "NaToya already knew what she wanted in life," he says. "She is always true to herself—never tries to be someone else."
NaToya wasn't really looking for love when she met Joey, but she wanted to settle down. "I’ve never really believed in love at first sight, but I definitely know it was God that allowed us to cross paths," she admits.
Instead of playing hard to get, NaToya let her true color shine through and Joey definitely noticed. "She’s beautiful," he says. "I love her smile and sense of humor. She’s intelligent and caring."
When NaToya first met Joey's family, she was pleased to instantly fit right in. "I felt as though I’d known them forever," she recalls. "His mom told me to get my apron on and start cooking. It was a joke, but I didn’t know what to do because I had not mastered the art of cooking."
One of the things that's got NaToya just smitten with Joey is the fact that he loves her for exactly who she is. And, we love it too.
If Joey could thank NaToya's parents for something, he knows exactly what he would say. "I would thank God and her parents for creating such a wonderful and beautiful human being," he says. "One that is designed specifically for me."
"I think he chose to marry me because he would never find another woman like me," jokes NaToya. "But seriously, because we complement each other and I love him unconditionally."
NaToya was so flushed with emotion when Joey proposed, the memory is still all a blur. "I can’t remember what was really going through my mind," she recalls. "I was so shocked and full of emotion. I don’t even know if I said 'yes,' but I have a ring and I'm planning a wedding, so I suppose I did."
For Joey, proposing was a piece of cake. "I wasn't really nervous," he says. "I had my mind made up!
When it came to NaToya's ring, Joey knocked it out of the park. "It’s like he took all of the little things that I loved from each ring and the end result was the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen," she gushes. "It has a round diamond center stone, surrounded by a squared frame bordered with round diamonds. In addition, there are accent diamonds surrounding the twisting shank. I love it!"
This soon-to-be married couple will have a rustic wedding, with a navy blue and gray color scheme. It will be both Southern and sweet.
After planning a wedding that's only three months away, NaToya is finally coming around to the whole party planning thing. When it comes to the kind of bride she'll be, she has a few requests: "I hope to be a laid back one, if everyone will just do as I say!"
Their honeymoon in Montego Bay will give this couple a chance to enjoy their new marital status in style. "When we’re (finally!) husband and wife, I can’t wait to grow as one and start a family!" says the bride-to-be.
All Joey can think about is the first moment he will see his new bride walking down the aisle. "It’ll be the greatest feeling ever," he exclaims. "I may get butterflies, but I’m sure that’s a good thing. I imagine it will be like our first kiss." Want to see your engagement story featured? Email us now!
