Photography by Ian Santiago
Bachelor Name: Mark Teed
Bachelorette Name: Meghan Klunk
(They were BOTH contestants)
How did you meet?
It was a semi-blind date at the Black Marlin through our friends Brittany and Jay. Semi meaning it was unbeknownst to Mark, but privy to Meghan. Mark was fresh on the market, so the timing was a bit off.
Where did you go/what did you do on your first date?
We had dinner and drinks at Southern Barrel and then went to see Knives Out. Once we got to the movie, front-row seats were our only option because we showed up after the movie started. We enjoyed the conversation and drinks too much to be on time.
How long did you date before he proposed?
A year and two months.
How many years have you been married?
It will be a year in June.
Tell us one thing you learned about your spouse in the first month/year of marriage that surprised you.
Mark was surprised by the number of opportunities he gets to poke fun at the cups of warm coffee gone cold sitting around the house. Meghan was surprised by how many random places she finds notes from Mark.
Tell us the moment you knew she was the one.
I knew it after our first Christmas together when she came and joined my family having never met them before and fit in like one of us.
Secret to a happy marriage. Be up front and honest with yourself and each other.
Photography by Kit Carper
Bachelor/Bachelorette Name: Myranda McAfee-Kroha
Spouse Name: David Kroha
How did you meet?
Myranda: Mutual friends brought him into LAVA 24 Fitness. I call it “LAVA love.” Fun fact: he had shown his parents my photo in the CH2 bachelorette magazine article and said I was going to be his next girlfriend. We went on our first date two days later.
David: I was going to LAVA and seeing her there. I thought she was cute, but I didn’t have the courage until I saw her in this magazine. Oh, the irony…
Where did you go/what did you do on your first date?
The Bluffton Room, still to this day my favorite date.
How long did you date before he proposed?
Exactly two years, and he proposed on his birthday!
How many years have you been married?
We just got married November 12, 2021. But another fun fact is we are expecting our first baby in August 2022!
Tell us one thing you learned about your spouse in the first month/year of marriage that surprised you.
Myranda: He shares everything.
David: Well, I just learned she is pregnant.
Tell us the moment you knew she was the one.
When I first saw her height. She’s nearly six feet; I am six-foot-four. Our kid has a good chance to make it to the league (go Celtics)!
Secret to a happy marriage.
Myranda: Communication.
David: Always have chocolate.
Photography by Lisa Staff
Bachelor Name:Taylor Whitehead
Bachelorette Name: Melissa Whitehead
(They were BOTH contestants)
How did you meet?
Melissa’s former boss introduced us here on Hilton Head.
Where did you go/what did you do on your first date?
We had a picnic on the beach, looking for shark teeth and sea glass with Ryder pup!
How long did you date before he proposed?
Two months! When you know, you know!
How many years have you been married?
One year and four months.
Tell us one thing you learned about your spouse in the first month/year of marriage that surprised you.
Taylor: How selfless, hardworking and dedicated she is to us and our growing family.
Melissa: What an amazing man my husband truly is; watching him be a father to Carter Ann has been the greatest thing yet!
Secret to a happy marriage.
Taylor: Happy wife, happy life! Kidding, but just go with the flow, have fun and support each other always.
Melissa: We have God at the center of our marriage and simply strive to live our best life together.
Photography by Kartina Wheeler
Bachelor/Bachelorette Name: Erik Olson
Spouse Name: Rachael Olson
How did you meet?
We met through a close friend of mine whose father is close friends with Rachael’s father. Rachael’s family would come from Atlanta to visit their family at their home on the Beaufort River for the annual Water Festival each summer when she was young. Rachael played tennis for Oklahoma in college. She had her first summer free (ever) in her final year of eligibility and decided to come spend that summer on Hilton Head Island in 2009. My buddy mentioned he had a childhood friend coming to town for the summer that might need some help finding a place to live or work. He sent me her name and number, and I looked her up on the ol’ “BookFace” and thought she was a super attractive.
Where did you go/what did you do on your first date?
Well … Rachael didn’t really need help finding a place to live or work and didn’t need help meeting people either. However, I was determined to meet her and called and texted about doing so persistently after she got into town. She was dismissive, but I finally caught up with her at One Hot Mama’s after she’d mentioned she’d be there one evening a couple weeks after she’d arrived on the island. She was fairly indifferent that evening, but we spent about 30 minutes together, so I’ve always claimed that evening as our first date and a dazzling success that kicked off the “Summer of Love!”
How long did you date before he proposed?
Eleven months.
How many years have you been married?
Eleven years this June!
Tell us one thing you learned about your spouse in the first month/year of marriage that surprised you.
Erik: Rachael had to leave and go back to Oklahoma after the “Summer of Love,” so it was a huge leap of faith for her to move here prior to engagement. I suppose it comes with time (and the slightest hints of maturity on my end), but her commitment to her move here to build a home and a life that included both of us surprised me then and continues to be one of the things that I find amazing about her.
Rachael: First year, yikes. Three kiddos later, I can’t recall what happened yesterday at times, ha! In all seriousness, I’d say what I learned about him after a year of marriage is how caring and thoughtful he is. He is such a planner when it comes to experiences and gifts, never just a sporadic or thoughtless decision. At times, he can drive me nuts with his thinking process compared to my lightning speed approach, but boy do I appreciate it and love his thoughtful heart! I also realized after a year that I married a fine wine because, sheesh, gets better with age!
Tell us the moment you knew she was the one.
I was working weekends at Wilson Landing at Palmetto Bluff the summer we met. On a Saturday, at the last minute, I was asked to run a large group on a large center console out to the Calibogue Sound at night for the Fourth of July. It might sound fun, but it was work. I wasn’t super comfortable with the task, and I was frustrated because it certainly wasn’t what I had in mind for Fourth of July. I remember Rachael understood all of this and came with me and sat behind me and put her arms around me while I was running the group out. It was perfectly imperfect, and I knew then.
Secret to a happy marriage.
Erik: Always remember that love is a choice, and always accept each other for who you are at the time.
Rachael: Remember to have fun, laugh, and make each other a priority. Don’t forget date nights!
Photography by Amia Marcell
Bachelor/Bachelorette Name: Chris Wells
Spouse Name: Katherine Veldran-Wells
How did you meet?
Well, we all know it’s a small island. We met over a decade ago through mutual friends and forged a great friendship then. Stayed friends for a long time, and eventually that friendship turned into a love we are forever grateful for.
Where did you go/what did you do on your first date?
Our first date as a couple was to St. Kitts where we spent the entire week falling for each other. Not a bad spot to fall in love!
How long did you date before he proposed?
About a year later, he proposed—one of the best days of our lives.
How many years have you been married?
We got married November 20, 2021, in Harbour Town—such a beautiful and special place.
Tell us one thing you learned about your spouse in the first month/year of marriage that surprised you.
Chris: How silly she can be when it’s just the two of us. We have so much fun together, and we make each other laugh every day.
Katherine: We’ve known each other for so long, and he’s my best friend, so I don’t feel like there have been any real surprises for me. Although I am a little surprised by how he continues to do so many thoughtful little things for me. He definitely knows how to make me feel like his princess.
Tell us the moment you knew she was the one.
When I took her to have Thanksgiving with my family in Beaufort. We stopped and walked around at Waterfront Park. It was a beautiful day, and we sat down on one of the swings overlooking the water. Right then I knew. And that’s where we returned to on the day I proposed to her.
Secret to a happy marriage.
Chris: When I asked her father for his blessing to ask Katherine to marry me, I told him my goal for the rest of time would be to make Katherine feel loved every day.
Katherine: He makes me feel safe and he makes me laugh every day. I am so grateful for our bond.
Bachelor/Bachelorette Name: Lee Holyoak
Spouse Name: Emily Jane Halsey
How did you meet?
Emily: It was a Saturday night; Ally and I were working at the busy local bar at Mellow Mushroom (the original one), where outside of the tourists, it felt like Cheers, where everyone knows your name. Lee came strolling in. I eyed him and told Ally, “I’ll take care of this one.” Lee sat down mid-bar and ordered a Stella Artois in his hunky Australian accent. I named his tab QT (didn’t know his name and thought he was cute). When time came to pay his tab, he noticed the name on the tab. Lee said, “I bet you name all the tabs like that to get a bigger tip….”
Where did you go/what did you do on your first date?
Hilton Head Brew Pub. I sang Lee two karaoke songs: “The Perfect Country and Western Song,” by David Allan Coe and “Deeper Than the Holler,” by Randy Travis. We sat at the bar and told each other our life stories.
How long did you date before he proposed?
18 months.
How many years have you been married?
12 years. We married in August of 2009.
Tell us one thing you learned about your spouse in the first month/year of marriage that surprised you.
Emily: Lee never wanted me to teach me tennis.
Lee: Lee did not want to answer, so “No comment.”
Tell us the moment you knew she was the one.
When she met my parents and still wanted to stay with me.
Secret to a happy marriage.
Emily: Communication.
Lee: Letting her think she is always right.
Photography by Peyton Mariah
Bachelor/Bachelorette Name: Kandace (Wightman) Cunningham
Spouse Name: Ross Cunningham
How did you meet?
Through mutual friends.
Where did you go/what did you do on your first date?
Ross came to Bluffton, and we met at Calhoun’s outside bar. We just took the golf cart out and about and enjoyed each other’s company.
How long did you date before he proposed?
A year and a half.
How many years have you been married?
We’re still newlyweds—got married October of 2021.
Tell us one thing you learned about your spouse in the first month/year of marriage that surprised you.
Ross: She inherited my bad luck; we have learned to get through tough life and situational obstacles together.
Kandace: When it comes to a home project, like painting or fixing something small, call someone. He’s not a handyman, but he sure can cook!
Tell us the moment you knew she was the one.
It was easy. We just clicked, and we were on the same page with short- and long-term life goals.
Secret to a happy marriage.
Ross: Never stop dating each other; express your opinions and listen to theirs; don’t give up; always tell the truth; and remember the following phrases: “Yes dear,” “It’s all my fault,” and “I’m sorry.”
Kandace: Celebrate all the small, good moments.
