Beloved Amanda and I’s world’s collided a little over a year ago the way that all true love stories start….. on a dating app. Both of us downloaded Upward (a CHRISTIAN app so hold the judgment) without much thought not really expecting anything real to formulate. Amanda and I matched right away, and my pick-up line “you were such a beautiful butterfly🦋” (referencing and old Halloween photo she had posted) both terrified and intrigued her enough to win me a first date! In an act of poetic romance or a-little-to-forward optimism I brought Amanda on a picnic in the same rose garden at lake Harriet that my father proposed to my mother. The date went very well and within a month after several more memorable dates we were officially boyfriend and girlfriend. Our dating life from there was marked, with many whimsical adventures that often included PB&J picnics, scenic views, competition and jumping in any body of water we could find. We spent lots of time with each other’s family’s and church bodies as we continued to intentionally pursue one another and become more a part of each other’s lives. All of these things continued to bring us closer as friends but it was our shared love of Jesus that brought us into something deeper, something that might really last… In mid-April of this year a plan was hatched to propose in Mt.Rainer National Park while Amanda and I were on a road trip out to the Pacific Northwest. A group of 5 close family and friends were going to fly out for a surprise proposal on the 21st of May. It was a great plan until the proposal spot was blocked by 15ft of snow (oops) which sent everyone into a blind frenzy to find a new spot while unable to communicate with each other. Eventually, through quick thinking, countless near misses, and a stellar acting performance culminated by me pretended to throw up in the woods, I got Amanda into the spot along the river and in the mist and rain asked her to marry me! She said yes😄 We are now entering into the rest of our lives together, so grateful for all that God has done and ecstatic for everything yet to come! Thanks for being a part of our lives and celebrating this momentous occasion with us!

We love and deeply appreciate all of our friends and family and sincerely want to honor and celebrate with you all. We also acknowledge that our wedding is a little untraditional so let us explain… For the wedding ceremony itself we are choosing to have a small and intimate ceremony. We feel that it will add to the sanctity of the moment and put more weight on the covenant that we are forming in the presence of our close friends and family who are going to be most responsible for holding us accountable to our vows. We are then having a family dinner to particularly celebrate with our families and honor the role they have played in our lives as our two families merge. Before finally having a dessert reception for all our guests to come together with us and party!!