Like many modern love stories, ours started with a swipe—but unlike most dating app clichés, this one ends with true love. We met on Hinge (yes, the app that’s “designed to be deleted”), and after a week or so of chatting, texting, and realizing we both had a pretty great sense of humor, Talon asked Ashelynn out for "warm drinks." Our first date was at JB's, where there were, ironically, zero warm drinks—but the conversation flowed easily, and it didn’t take long to discover the real warmth came from each other. Ashelynn’s first impression? “He’s so tall and a giant teddy bear.” Talon’s? “She’s shorter than I expected and so nice, polite, and pleasant.” Despite the difference in height, everything else just clicked. By the end of dinner, we both knew something special had started.

After closing on our first home together on April 30th, Talon was eager to fill it with people, laughter, and memories. One of the first things he looked forward to was hosting his friends for a game night. So, when the idea of a casual barbecue came up, it felt like the perfect way to kick things off. At least, that’s what Ashelynn thought. What she didn’t know was that Talon had a much bigger moment in mind. Earlier that month, he had secretly ordered the ring and started planning the proposal, knowing two things for sure: he didn’t want to wait long, and it had to happen at the house. From the very beginning, the home had meant so much to both of us. Ashelynn had fallen in love with the view from the big front windows, the peaceful spot on the hill, the mountain backdrop, and the perfect golden sunsets that seemed to wrap the home in something quiet and magical. It only made sense that this would be the place where our next chapter would begin. Talon pulled together the details, enlisting help from friends to keep things casual and distraction-free (thank you, chaotic group conversations). And he didn’t forget Ashelynn’s one request for the proposal: make sure someone captures the moment. So having friends casually snap photos “to celebrate the new house” was the perfect cover. With the sun setting just right, the fur babies in place, and close friends nearby, Talon got down on one knee and asked Ashelynn to marry him. It was sweet, heartfelt, and a total surprise—just the way he hoped it would be. There were happy tears, a lot of laughter, and yes—plenty of pictures. Now, every sunset in that home reminds us of where our forever began.