To help us organize folks into pre-reserved accommodations, and give you time to make final bookings, please RSVP by March 15 for the Ceremony, which will prompt you to indicate the number of nights you intend to stay. Reach out to us if you have questions!

The year was 2018 - so naturally, we met through online dating. Andy was fishing for outdoorsy ladies in two ponds: San Francisco and Truckee. Charlotte was wondering if all Bay Area guys' dating profiles were in fact identical: software engineer, outdoorsy, bearded, probably a climber. Charlotte's confession that she likes winter caught Andy's eye. Andy's direct request for authenticity (and his outdoorsy, bearded climber photos) caught Charlotte's eye, and she sent the first message. Sparks flew over drinks and dinner, and then they stumbled into a live jazz performance. There was a lot of intense eye contact - they were definitely "those people" in the bar. Over the coming weeks they got to know each other quickly thanks to Andy's ability to ask lots of direct, deep questions. Things got serious when Andy asked Charlotte if she wanted to label it "a Relationship Thing" (she did). Andy joined Charlotte's friends on a trail running race; Charlotte purchased a climbing harness, mountaineering boots, and backcountry skis in order to overlap enough with Andy in space-time. After they first broached the topic of marriage, Andy and Charlotte decided to explore the topic by writing a list of questions they wanted to discuss before making The Decision. Cue more direct, deep questions over the ensuing months - such as, "What is your biggest fear about making a commitment to someone?" and "What will you do when you're sick of me?" Andy was 99% sure he was ready to marry Charlotte when he got injured in early 2019. Lying in the ER hospital cot awaiting his MRI with Charlotte squished next to him, he thought, "DUH", and his decision was made. Witnessing Andy's steadfast kindness and strength in the hospital reinforced Charlotte's decision that this guy was her partner for life.

Flashback: a few months into their Relationship Thing, Andy asked Charlotte: "What are three words to describe the relationship you want to create together?" With different words but the same meaning, Andy and Charlotte both answered 1) a secure, solid foundation 2) continuous growth, together and as individuals and 3) authenticity. Through months of back and forth with an online custom jewelry shop, Andy designed a ring that embodies these three relationship ideals. Triangular mountain motifs represent the solid foundation; curving, branch-like prongs represent growth; and the center stone, a grey spinel (and who's ever heard of grey spinel??) represents authenticity. Ring in hand, Andy hoped to propose on the summit of Donner Peak, near their home in Truckee. On a Saturday morning, Andy asked Charlotte if she wanted to scramble up Donner Peak. Charlotte's reply: "Nah." Not today, my back hurts. Not today, I won't get engaged. Andy was feeling resigned to waiting a few weeks until after some travel and family visits, when after dinner on Sunday evening, they went for a walk in the meadow out their back door. He grabbed the ring, thinking, "what the heck, just in case...". As they walked, the sky lit up in fiery reds, oranges and pinks, a truly spectacular sunset. After some quick mental calculations, Andy decided the moment was too good to pass up. On a small knoll with 360 degree views of mountains, forests, and sky, he told Charlotte how much she meant to him, and then dropped to one knee. Charlotte instantly burst into tears, repeating "Yes, yes" before Andy even got the whole question out. And that brings us back to the present - we're getting married!

It's important to us to gather our loved ones and make a public commitment to our Relationship Thing. We hope that embedding our relationship in a community of love and support will help it to grow and thrive throughout the years. We're really excited to celebrate with all of you!