Newlyweds: Shane and Emma Robertson

Shane (20), originally from Myrtle Beach, and Emma (21), from Spartanburg, met playing 9 square at a freshman welcome weekend at Charleston Southern University. They became close friends first, and it wasn’t until months into dating that they began to fall for each other. Shane is a commercial real estate broker at Palmetto Commercial Properties, and Emma teaches first grade. They got married on 5/14/26 at The Citadel Beach Club on Isle of Palms.

Current location:

North Charleston, SC.

How did you meet?

We met at a welcome weekend event playing 9 square our freshman year of college at Charleston Southern University. After that we quickly became good friends.

What did you do on your first date?

Shane picked me up from my dorm room and gave me the most beautiful flowers. He took me to walk the Mount Pleasant Pier at sunset. It was simple, but sweet and exactly what I wanted. At that point, we already knew each other so well from our friendship that he asked me to be his girlfriend. I said yes about 2 weeks later.

Tell us about the proposal.

We had talked about getting engaged sometime after our 1 year anniversary of dating, but Shane really surprised me by proposing only about 2 weeks after our anniversary. He told me he wanted to take me to watch the sunset at Mepkin Abbey. I was prepared in case he did propose, but I did not think there was any way he would propose so soon. When we got to Mepkin Abbey he led me to a bench by the water. He had a bouquet of roses and a photographer waiting for us there. He asked me to marry him and I was thrilled to say yes. Afterwards, he had planned a dinner for us to celebrate, but I was so excited to go tell our friends and family that we skipped dinner and went to tell everyone right away.

Why did you choose to get married in Charleston?

We loved the idea of getting married in the place we met. Charleston is the one place in South Carolina that was significant to the both of us. It had also always been my dream to get married on the beach.

What was your first dance song?

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Do you believe in love at first sight?

Neither one of us believes in love at first sight necessarily. We believe in instant attraction, but we strongly believe love is a choice that you make each and every day and not just a feeling. When we first met, I don’t think either of us was interested in being more than friends. It was after we got to know each other better that we began to fall for each other. We were very careful in our relationship not to throw around the word love until we were sure we meant it. It took both of us a few months into the relationship to really be sure that we were in love.

What’s your definition of love?

We are both Christians and we look to the biblical definition of love to really understand what it means. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 tells us what love is and what love is not. Love is a selfless choice made daily to put someone else’s wants and needs before your own.

What are your thoughts on dating nowadays?

I think it can be difficult because so much of our day-to-day lives is online now. People don’t interact in person as much anymore which can make any kind of relationship more difficult. I think if people are intentional about putting themselves out there and making those face-to-face connections, it will become easier to grow relationships of any kind.

What advice would you give people searching for their life partner?

Know what you want before you ever even start to look, and do not settle until you find someone who meets your standards. I’m not saying to be picky, but don’t settle on non-negotiables.

Also, learn to be content in your current season of life. You don’t want to miss out on opportunities because you are too focused on the future. Personally, in my season of singleness before meeting Shane, I found contentment by trusting that God’s plan and timing were best for my life, and being grateful for all the blessings I had been given.

On paper, would you say you’re a compatible couple?

I would say we are very compatible. Our personalities are similar in a lot of ways, we have the same values and beliefs, and we enjoy a lot of the same hobbies and activities.

What’s the best piece of advice you received about marriage?

Never take each other for granted and always take care of one another.

What are your future plans?

Being fresh out of college, we both want to continue to grow our careers for a while. In a few years, we want to start having kids.

Who’s the better cook?

We are both pretty good cooks, but I (Emma) am definitely the head chef. My favorite thing though, is baking anything you can imagine.

Who’s more organized?

Definitely me (Emma). Neither one of us is very messy, but I have a very strong type A personality and like to keep things pretty orderly.

What are some of your favorite date spots around town?

Pitt St. bridge for the sunset. Hampton Park is a good walking/picnic spot. Le Farfalle. Welton’s Tiny Bakeshop for bakery items/breakfast. Jeni’s or Kilwin’s for ice cream downtown. Twisted Sugar in Summerville. Heavy’s Barburger. Isle of Palms Beach.

Photography: Maria McKenzie Photography (wedding) / Leah Marty Photography (proposal).