Spring of 2012.. when I first met Matt Naylor he was a quiet senior looking for a prom date. Quiet. Yes. You heard that right. The smile that brings the energy and lights up any room was quiet and shy at one point - at least towards the female population. I was a sophomore, just got my braces off, and the most exciting thing going on in my life was finally getting my license. Our friend group at the time thought we would be a good pair so I said yes…we could go as “friends.” Soon after he asked if we could get to know each other a little more over some frozen yogurt. I remember him offering to drive completely out of the way to make sure he picked me up instead of me driving and meeting him there. What a friend 😉 It started with yogurt but swiftly moved to a real date at The Cheesecake Factory…little did I know 9 years later this place would be such a full circle moment for us. I quickly realized this friend who was making me laugh until I cried on a daily basis wouldn’t leave my head. I wanted to be with him all the time. From prom, long distance travels back and forth while we were both in college, moving around the country for career moves, living in Chicago, growing our family (Willow bean), and now both agreeing to tease each other forever. My best friend - I can’t wait to be Mr. & Mrs. Naylor ❤️

Approaching our 9th year together Amanda and I planned a trip out west to knock out a few more national park bucket list items. One we have been talking about forever, Yosemite National Park. We decided to fly into Los Angeles and stay our first night in Marina Del Ray. Little did Amanda know, I had asked for Inez, Ian and my parents to fly out as this was going to be the place that I asked her to spend the rest of her life with me. We arrived in LA on our red eye flight and I was in preparation for tomorrow being the big day when her cousin Steph told me Inez fell after dinner, was in the ER, and broke her arm. Wow, was I shook. Knowing Amanda was going to FaceTime her mom in the morning, what was she going to think? Sure enough when we wake up, Amanda calls her mom who she thought was in Key West to see her in a sling. Inez makes up a story and the plan for a water side proposal with a surprise celebration at The Cheesecake Factory, a spot we went on our first date as a couple was on! A “yes” from the love of my life, a celebration with our family, and a week in the beautiful mountains of California to continue our forever together.