Jess and Josh’s story began at Black Hills High School in Tumwater, Washington. Though they crossed paths now and then, they ran in different circles and never really got to know each other. After graduation, life took them in separate directions, until about a year and a half later, when Josh was home from college and decided to send Jess a message on social media: “Howdy.” What started as a casual conversation quickly turned into something more. A few days later, they met up at a friend’s house, expecting just a fun evening. Instead, they ended up talking for hours, playing games, sharing music, and catching up on all the time they’d missed. By the end of the night, back at Jess’s apartment, the conversation continued late into the early morning. That night marked the beginning of something real. What began as a simple reconnection turned into a strong, easy connection that neither of them saw coming. And since then, they’ve been inseparable.

When Josh decided it was time to propose, he wanted it to be meaningful and well thought out. He started by reaching out to Jess’s sister, Savannah, for help picking out the perfect ring, knowing she’d have the best insight as to what Jess would love. From there, Josh began planning the proposal carefully, with the help of his mom, Rhonda. While Jess was at work, he and Rhonda spent time searching for the right spot and sorting out all the details. He also looped in Jess’s closest friends to help plan a casual girls’ day out to keep her busy and unsuspecting. After a fun day with her friends, Jess got ready for what she thought was just a nice dinner date at Anthony’s Hearthfire. Everything felt normal, until after dinner, when Josh suggested a walk down to the nearby park by the water. The evening had started to cool off, and Jess was ready to call it a night, unaware of what was about to happen. Waiting nearby was Rhonda, along with their dog Bash, who had a small gift bag tied to his collar, and Jess’s friend Ashlynn, who had been part of the girls’ day and was now tucked away nearby with a camera, ready to capture the moment. At Josh’s signal, Rhonda let Bash run to them. The bag tied to his collar carried the ring. Josh took it, got down on one knee, and asked Jess the question he’d been planning for a long time. And of course, she said yes.