We're getting married!

Allison and Peter met shortly after college in 2013 through mutual friends. While both were gainfully employed, they still had the spirit of college kids and spent many weekends together into the wee hours of the morning…as friends. They developed a close platonic bond, but many would argue Peter had ulterior motives. Allison spent her Summers in Portland but most of the year lived in New Orleans. Peter, not always known for his patience, bided his time. Several years would pass and the friendship continued. Allison finally decided to move back to Portland permanently to join her family business full time, moving in November 2017. Peter’s time had come. By New Year’s eve, the relationship had taken a romantic turn…and shockingly enough, Allison made the first move! Altogether, Peter and Allison have known each other for 8 years, half the time as friends and the other half as boyfriend and girlfriend.

Last Summer, Peter suggested that he and Allison should join Allison’s mother (Barbara) to “visit” Allison’s father (Clint), who spends his summers in Alaska. At the time, travel restrictions had started to ease and Allison was enthusiastic to take the trip. However, as July approached, the “2nd wave” of the pandemic came in full force and Allison thought it might be best to cancel…she was confused (and perhaps a bit suspicious) that both Peter and Barbara were adamant that the trip were to go on as planned. Months earlier, Allison had been sharing her sales goals with Peter for the upcoming year. She had said she wanted to sell 10,000 pounds of salmon through the direct-to-consumer channel by the end of August. Peter jokingly replied that if Allison could sell 13,500 pounds that Summer he would bend the knee and ask for her hand in marriage. If you have not heard, fresh food and direct-to-consumer sales exploded last year during the pandemic…Allison and Clint’s salmon business included. Around sunset on their first night in Alaska, the two of them were taking a stroll on the bluff overlooking the beautiful Kachemak Bay and Mount Redoubt, Peter asked Allison how far along she was towards her sales goal. Her response? 13,511 pounds. Peter, quick to inform Allison that he is and always would be a man of his word, dropped to one knee and popped the question. Needless to say, Allison said “YES!”