Although friends since March 2012, where they met at a mutual friend’s house, Zachary and Briana didn’t pursue a relationship until well over a year later. Their first outing together, just the two of them, was a trip to Rainbow Springs State Park in the summer of 2013 as friends. They didn’t kayak or go tubing but just leisurely strolled through the trails. Zachary slept the entire hour and a half drive back and, unknowing to Briana, this would become a staple on their many trips. When Briana moved to Tampa to attend USF, they realized how close they had become and missed one another dearly. If Zach wasn’t driving to Tampa to see her, she was driving back to Port Richey to see him and within a couple years they were living together. Soon after followed a cat (Eden). Zach supported them for several years as Briana attended school and they slowly built their life together; upgrading from two desks to a dining table, from a mattress on the floor to a canopy bed, from a tv on a chest to an entertainment center with a book shelf, from one cat to two (Bear). They took several trips - to New Orleans, Jekyll Island in Georgia, and even went digging for quartz in South Carolina. Once Briana graduated with her bachelors in 2017, and once again with her technical degree in 2019, Zach started school, taking classes part time while working full time to keep bills paid. In 2020, Zach took his first flight to Aspen, Colorado with Briana so she could finally see snow for the first time. In the sleepy little town with its brick buildings nestled between the many mountain peaks, the snow gently falling and glittering on the ground Briana remarked that this would be the perfect place to propose. By 2021 Briana was both desperate for a house and desperate to get married. Due to financial constraints, Zach told her she would have to choose one and in 2022 they closed on a beautiful home that they’ve been slowly trying to fix up ever since. A few months later they went on a second trip to Aspen for Briana’s birthday. Even though she had already been told to choose between the two, she still hoped for a proposal. She did her makeup and wore a cute one piece ski suit as they rode to the summit of Aspen mountain where all she received was some very welcome hot cocoa. They then snowmobiled to the maroon bells. She hurried them to a hill where the peaks sat perfectly centered behind them and asked someone to take their picture, sure that this must be the place. But, to her dismay, there was no dropping to one knee. The next day, defeated, she did not do her makeup and threw on some long John’s and a silver scarf as they ventured out for the day. Seeking out a trail they’d taken the first time they were in Aspen, Briana took them a mile in the wrong direction. She wanted to give up but Zach was determined and eventually got them back on track. Briana, freezing cold, needing to pee, with less than 20% battery on her phone, begrudging followed behind. After an hour along the trail they headed back the way they came to return to the hotel. Zach dragged Briana to take a picture on a beautiful bridge they spotted on the way in. Sure enough, on the bridge Zach dropped onto one knee and asked Briana to marry him. Now in 2026 they are so excited to finally tie the knot.