How it all started.
In June 2020, at a time when meeting someone felt nearly impossible, fate had other plans for us. Through a stroke of luck (and a swipe in the right direction), we connected online. Ben is actually the only person I’ve ever gone on a date with from a dating app, which makes it all the more special.
Our first date in the Highlands felt like we’d known each other for years. Later that week we had another great date. But that third date came with a funny twist—Ben brought along two of his closest friends unbeknownst to me, James and John, and somehow it all worked! Early on, we bonded over the things we both value—staying active, traveling, and finding joy in the little moments. One of our favorite early memories was making paella at Ben’s house which has inspired our main course for the wedding day.
As our relationship grew, we found new ways to challenge and support each other. We flipped my house into an Airbnb, taking on every renovation ourselves, and turned Ben’s business into a backyard studio—a true labor of love. We learned how to navigate stressful situations with patience, humor, and a lot of teamwork.
Our everyday life is built on balance. Ben is so helpful in the morning and gets the day going for us both with coffee and breakfast, while I tend to come alive later in the day. Whether we’re biking around the city, grabbing coffee, trying local ciders, or just sitting on the porch with a glass of wine, we find ways to connect and enjoy life together. Ben’s love of reading and my love of movies mean we’re often relaxing side by side, and we both love hosting friends—especially when I can cook recipes inspired by our travels.
Through everything, we’ve built a relationship rooted in love, respect, and adventure. We’ve traveled to 7 countries together—and each trip has brought its own lessons and unforgettable memories. From navigating foreign roads to finding hidden gems in new cities, we’ve grown stronger through every experience. We can’t wait to celebrate this next chapter with the people we love most.
The Proposal
Our engagement story is definitely one for the books. Ben and I were in Oregon for my sister Alison’s wedding, and we decided to make a little road trip out of it, exploring the northern part of the state before the festivities.
Ben had a great proposal planned, but unfortunately, I played a bit of a role in derailing it. After I gave him coffee, a protein shake, and then took him to the Tillamook Cheese Factory for a cheese and ice cream overload (whoops), his stomach wasn’t exactly feeling up to a romantic hike to a beautiful waterfall. To put it mildly, his original proposal plan quickly went off track when he had to make a mad dash down the trail.
Ben being Ben, he didn’t let that stop him. Instead of sticking to the original plan, he quickly pivoted and found a new moment.
On our four-year dating anniversary, under the strawberry full moon at Newport Harbor, he got down on one knee on the dock and asked me to marry him. The whole time I was worried he was going to drop the ring in between the slats of the dock! It wasn’t the proposal we thought we were going to have, but it ended up being exactly what we needed.