Abby and Lawson both grew up in Fayetteville, Arkansas, but their story didn’t officially begin until the fall of 2016 - when they crossed paths running around the same hallways and soccer field at Fayetteville High School. After orbiting in the same friend group for a bit, Lawson somehow managed to convince Abby to take one of the very last open spots on a mission trip to Costa Rica he was going on that spring. He thinks this was fate. Abby thinks it was peer pressure. Before the trip, Lawson hatched an elaborate plan to ask Abby to prom - because what says romance more than a grand gesture on a church-sanctioned trip? On one of their final free days the group went to the beach, Lawson recruited a small group of helpers to spell out “Shell we go to prom?” in seashells. He was very proud of this and to this day, Lawson is still shocked she said yes. Fast forward to a few weeks before prom - Lawson officially asked Abby to be his girlfriend. Now, you’re probably wondering: If things started in 2017… why did it take Lawson eight years to propose? Great question. He’s still working on an answer. Over the next few years (and several more wildly “creative” high school dance proposals), Abby and Lawson graduated and headed to the University of Arkansas - Abby into the Architecture School and Lawson into the Business School. They got to experience college together from all of the sorority and fraternity functions, study dates, and countless late nights in the architecture studio… where Lawson would show up like a loyal boyfriend with dinner in hand. During college, Abby took on internships out of state and even studied abroad in Italy for an entire semester. Facetime basically became their third roommate, keeping them connected across time zones, bad Wi-Fi, and Abby’s questionable international data plan. But through all of it, every adventure Abby wanted to chase, Lawson was always right there, cheering her on, supporting her, and pretending he totally understood her architectural terminology. After graduating, they decided it was time to explore life outside of Arkansas. Unfortunately for Lawson, Abby took just a little too long deciding where she wanted to work. So Lawson had to commit to his current job offer. Naturally, shortly after that, Abby accepted a job in Denver… where Lawson would not be joining her. Yet... Cue long distance, round two. They facetimed every night, Abby and Lawson somehow grew even closer. After a year of Abby flying home and Lawson flying to Denver, Lawson’s lease finally ended and he made the move. He landed a job in Denver, and together they started building a life in Colorado. They’ve now spent three years making Denver home - exploring the mountains, cooking questionable recipes, adopting adult responsibilities, and laughing at pretty much everything in between. And then, on June 28th, 2025 after years of dating, surviving long distance twice, and navigating adult life in Denver, Lawson FINALLY got down on one knee and asked Abby to marry him. The moment was thoughtful, emotional, and, in classic Lawson fashion, just the right mix of short and sweet. Abby said yes immediately, and suddenly everything they’d built together over the past eight years felt like it had been leading right to that moment. Through all the years, Abby and Lawson didn’t just grow up together - they became who they are because of one another. Now, they’re beyond excited to be getting married in the mountains of Colorado and can’t wait to keep building a life filled with laughter, love, inside jokes, and plenty of goofy moments.