We are getting married!

We met the way many great love stories begin: at work. Delaney was a cocktail server, Atrayu was a barback, and from the start, she couldn’t help but notice the cute guy behind the bar. One day, she spotted a sketch in the breakroom that totally caught her eye. “I’m going to date whoever drew this,” she joked. Plot twist: it was Atrayu’s. Cue the long crush era. Delaney spent months secretly swooning, telling coworkers how kind and handsome he was, even bailing on a setup because she got too nervous. Eventually, the secret got out (thanks, bartender gossip) and to her surprise, Atrayu asked her out right away. Their first date was bar-hopping with his family. Their second was a Trail Blazers game on the same night Portland confirmed its first COVID case. The timing wasn’t ideal, but the connection was instant. As the world shut down, their story started to unfold in the quiet moments. They made it official on September 21, 2020, and that date quickly became their day. Since then, they’ve been through just about everything together. Pandemics, wildfires, snowstorms, job changes, and long-distance stretches. They’ve experienced the heartbreak of losing friends and family, and the joy of welcoming new life into the world. Through all of it, they’ve leaned on each other, grown side by side, and stayed rooted in love. Adventure has been a huge part of their journey. They’ve traveled together through Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Vegas, Alaska, and Europe, exploring Switzerland, Italy, and Greece. But one of their most special places is a little closer to home: Lincoln City, Oregon. It’s been their go-to getaway for years. Delaney jokes that she needs a beach trip once a quarter, and Atrayu always makes it happen. It’s their happy place, full of cozy traditions, peaceful moments, and some of their favorite memories. So it only made sense that on September 21, 2024, during a beach trip to Lincoln City, Atrayu proposed. And now, five years from the day it all began, they’ll be saying “I do” on September 21, 2025. Same date. Same love. Forever their favorite day.