It all started with the esteemed dating app, Hinge. After perusing seemingly endless profiles in a sea of sameness of Seattle men, Chelsea stumbled upon the most unique and compelling profile yet: that of Mr. Brian Bickel. His infectious smile, apparent exuberance for life and adventure, down-to-earth aura, and obvious sense of humor pleasantly surprised her and sparked a sense of hope and excitement she didn’t expect. So she took the brave step of “swiping right” on Brian’s profile; hopeful and enthusiastic about the chance to meet this amazing guy. Brian scrolled joyfully on through Chelsea’s spectacularly curated profile in October 2023 (…2 months later; he still prays for forgiveness…) after getting a quick glimpse of her radiant smile, when he then encountered the single prompt that would change their lives forever: “Looking for a multi-sport and multi-dimensional man.” In a burst of playful boldness, he replied with his offbeat “athletic” credentials: catching toddler-thrown blocks, starting a so-called “Dick’s-a-Thon” (yes, burger-eating marathon), and sporting a not-so-graceful lacrosse injury. Chelsea, with a quick wit and an even quicker sense of humor, volleyed right back. Brian, captivated and curious by Chelsea’s rare blend of beauty and humor continued on asking, “How was your year?”. That is when Chelsea began to reveal the characteristic bravery, intentionality, and trust Brian has grown to love ever since; by first replying, “it was the hardest year of my life.” Chelsea expanded that in 2023 her family had experienced the most profound loss imaginable, the death of her best friend and brother – Jason Orr. Chelsea’s simple actions of unpacking her story beckoned Brian closer to this woman who was bursting at the seams with character, heart, depth and hope. He simply had to learn more, and very fortunately she felt the exact same way. From there, everything moved fast. Hours-long voice messages replaced texting, peeling back layers of shared faith, core values, and long-dreamed-of goals. Chelsea’s ambitions and aspirations such as applying to be on Survivor felt perfectly at home with Brian’s quirky stories of fortunes and misfortunes—together they discovered an immediate intimacy that took them both by surprise. By late December, they’d spent enough time talking (and bowling with her parents, Lisa and Rob) that Chelsea and Brian were becoming moved towards something much more than dating. Less visibly, December brought heartbreak and resilience for the Orr family. Jason regularly promised to find Chelsea her perfect partner, and Brian and Chelsea believe, along with her family, that from heaven Jason played a role in leading them together. Meanwhile, on his daily walks with friend Josh at St. Edward State Park, Brian couldn’t stop describing how God seemed to be nudging him toward Chelsea.

New Year’s Eve ended with Chelsea and Brian dancing at a friend’s engagement party, and 2024 kicked off at full speed. In early January, they attended church at Bethany in Green Lake, where Brian—caught up in the moment—introduced Chelsea to his cousins’ family, The Croziers, as his “girlfriend,” despite it not being official (yet). That same day, they took a bike ride in drenching, sideways rain, which somehow made them laugh even harder. Chelsea turned on the ride to Brian and asked “so, … Girlfriend?”. Brian shrugged and said something to the effect of “you want to?” Chelsea smiled and said yes. If they could enjoy each other’s company getting nearly turned into attractive popsicles, what couldn’t they handle? About a week later, curled up watching a movie, Chelsea looked at Brian and said, “I love you.” Brian echoed it without hesitation—both realizing this was more than just a fun connection; it was something lasting. Over the next few months, they made a hobby of weaving adventure into everyday life and indulging in thought-provoking conversations. They enrolled in salsa lessons (a blend of grace and giggles) and took cooking classes at PCC. They frequently initiated unique conversations thanks to a card question game Brian discovered, which led to a depth of understanding and sharing that would help establish a strong foundation for their relationship. They also vacationed in Hawaii with Chelsea’s family, where sun-drenched days of snorkeling and beach walks added more good memories to their growing list. All the while, their shared Apple Note “date list” kept them exploring: new hikes, new restaurants, even more new reasons to say, “Hey, let’s do this again!”

As summer approached, so did weightier conversations. They worked through a pre-marriage program called Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts and found their deepest beliefs dovetailed compatibly. Brian’s grandmother, Joan, offered ring-shopping guidance in June—he was determined to choose just the right shape (Chelsea gravitated toward oval or cushion) and just the right band (initially simple, later with diamonds). That same evening, he devised what might be called “the classiest Costco date” in Lynnwood. Picture a $1.50 hot dog dinner, linen napkins, and battery-powered candles lighting up a humble food court table. Mid-meal, Brian produced a note mentioning a “friend’s” fiancée who needed ring advice. Chelsea saw straight through it, of course, but played along as they headed to Shane Company for “browsing.” A day later, Chelsea mentioned to friends she might prefer diamonds on the band after all—her friend and roommate Jenny got word to Brian, who rushed back to finalize the swap. By July, he had quietly purchased the ring and sought the blessing of Lisa and Rob. By August, his eyes were set on the perfect proposal.

That perfect day arrived on September 14th—though it didn’t start exactly as planned. A coastal proposal near Chelsea’s beloved oyster spot got canceled by bad weather, and a coworker’s speakerphone slip the day before had thoroughly spoiled any remaining surprise. Undeterred, Brian dubbed it “Adventure Day” and kicked things off with coffee at Sidekick in Woodinville. Next came a culinary pilgrimage, walking from there along the Burke-Gilman Trail, towards The Cottage in Bothell via Bothell Landing Park. As they neared the turnoff, Brian pulled Chelsea another direction after scheming with his behind-the-scenes photographer Dad to get her to the right spot for photos. Sure enough, in a quiet patch of grass, Brian reminded Chelsea of the time he prematurely called her his girlfriend months ago, asking “remember back when I failed to define the relationship? Would you give me another chance?”. She nodded and affirmed his goal, and then he dropped to a knee and asked her to marry him. Chelsea said “yes,” calling it the easiest decision she’s ever made. Chelsea’s glowed with her gorgeous full smile beaming, while Brian was emotionally located somewhere between utter shock and the doorsteps of Heaven! After a quick PDA-filled brunch at The Cottage (…everyone knows it wouldn’t be okay if they weren’t holding hands 99% of the time, though it feels sickening to the untrained eye), they visited her brother Jason’s grave in Issaquah soon afterward, both seeking to honor and celebrate the fulfilled promise Jason gave Chelsea to “find her the perfect man”. The two basked and reveled for a few hours at Lake Sammamish before jetting over to Brian’s parents’ George and Jill’s home for a rapid freshening up before a “dinner”. The only successful surprise yet was imminent. “Dinner” was actually a congregation of a few family members and friends in a room labelled “Top Secret” at the Lodge at St. Edward State Park—where loved ones waited with cheers, hugs, and teary-eyed toasts. The stage was finally set – their new life was on its way!!!

Now we’re stepping into the next season: marriage. Between prioritizing their Christian faith, Costco candlelit dinners, countless adventures with friends and family, dancing through thunderstorms, and forging a life that Jason would be proud of, we’ve seen firsthand how unexpected, wonderful, and sometimes comical this journey can be. We can’t wait to celebrate with all of you as we say “I do,” and we’re thankful for the prayers, laughs, and encouragement along the way. With full hearts and big smiles, Chelsea & Brian