It’s an exciting day in pickleball because Julian Arnold and Lauren Stratman are officially engaged.

Arnold popped the question during a scenic walk around their Nashville neighborhood, catching his girlfriend of three-and-a-half years completely off guard.

“We actually just moved to Nashville about a month ago, and my best friend from college was in town visiting. We just went for a walk, which we had never done before. Julian felt that the only way he could really surprise me was if it was super spontaneous,” shared Stratman. 

“We were taking a couple of pictures on this dock on this really beautiful lake, and I turned around and he was kneeling. I was very surprised at that moment. I didn't expect it at all, and then my best friend was there to take pictures, which was super sweet,” she added.

While Stratman was stunned, she had a feeling the engagement was on the horizon. 

“I was surprised at that moment, but I knew that he had my ring for probably six months and was waiting for the moment. It was awesome,” she mentioned. 

The couple relocated from Austin, TX and bought a house.

Now, they’re adding a wedding into the mix.

“We’ve been together for a while, so it doesn’t feel too different being engaged. It feels like we're just taking the next step since we just bought our first house together. But, we're both excited to get married,” explained Stratman.

As far as actual wedding plans are concerned, though, nothing has really been solidified.

“We don't have any plans yet, but we're trying to get on the same page about where we want it to be, if we do want to have a big wedding, or if we want to elope and do something small,” revealed Stratman. “We're excited to figure it out and go from there. But, there's no rush on either end, so we're kind of just going to enjoy this next stage of being engaged.”

The pair have been celebrating their engagement in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico, playing golf, enjoying time by the pool, and exploring the sights. 

Prior to dating, Stratman and Arnold knew each other for a long time. In fact, they were opponents in a tennis tournament when Stratman was in high school.

“When I was 14, I played mixed doubles with my dad in a tennis tournament. It was called the Santa Maria Open and we actually played against Julian when he was about 18,” said Stratman. “He actually won the match and neither of us remembered, which has always been funny.”

Stratman and Arnold’s paths crossed again several years later at a pickleball tournament.

“We met at the PPA tournament in San Clemente in June 2021, and then we became boyfriend and girlfriend in October 2021,” confirmed Stratman. “Julian came to Tennessee, which is where I was living at the time. My dad actually recognized him from when we played him in a tennis tournament way back when. But, we do actually go way back,” she said.

Congrats to the happy couple!

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