We've known each other for most of our lives - that's just the way it goes in a small town. We began "hanging out" in 2015 and have been pretty hard to separate ever since. Then we had gym class together, and the rest was history. We decided to label it "dating" a couple of months before Avery graduated from high school. Aaron still had two years to go, so it felt like a huge deal, the distance, the time… but we were confident in ourselves, and that's all that mattered. So we decided to stick it out and try the long-distance thing. It stuck. It grew. It changed. It thrived. It survived. For ten years, we have been learning about each other, about love, about partnership, and trust... we are looking forward to decades more.

Aaron is in a golf league that plays every Thursday night all summer long, so he is always busy on Thursdays. Sometime Monday, Avery gets a perfectly formulated text from Teagan: “Hey! I’m kidless Thursday evening and want to catch up and have some drinks. (yadda, yadda, yadda) Are you down?” She also includes, “I’m going to wear this cute new summery dress that I just got last week.” Of course, Avery is “down.” They make plans for a hot date at the Rusted Spoke in Mackinaw City, MI. Thursday evening comes, Aaron leaves for golf, per usual. Avery completes the finishing touches to her “look” and leaves for dinner. Little did she know, Aaron had been hiding a ring for weeks. He did not go to golf. Instead, he went to pick up some champagne and roses before heading north, towards Mackinaw City. After dinner and drinks, Avery and Teagan (both rock hounds) decide to walk to the beach and look for beach glass, unique rocks, and other treasures. Teagan is texting the whole time! At dinner, on the walk, and at the beach… Avery is thinking, ‘I hope everything is okay at home.’ In reality, she’s texting Aaron; they are so sneaky! Sharing information about each other’s whereabouts back and forth under the guise of a concerned mother checking on her children! Clever. Meanwhile, Aaron sits (and shakes his leg) hiding behind rocks - peaking out for a glimpse of his soon to be bride - and waits, so anxiously, for the: “We’re at the beach.” text. Finally, there they were: Avery staring at the ground, blindly following Teagan’s directions trusting her friend to guide her to the best rocks. Teagan says, “Avery, turn around!” “WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!” Avery practically shouts as her brain catches up to her mouth and she sees the rose, the box, ‘OMG THE BOX!’ and he’s getting down on one knee. Teagan captures the moment. Aaron asks, “Avery, will you marry me?” She says, “Yes, now put it on me!” meaning ‘give me that ring! I can’t wait another second!’ Aaron chose so beautifully - you’ll have to see for yourself. Mother Earth provided the perfect sunset backdrop for photos of this special moment. Aaron topped the evening off with champagne as well as roses in a vase atop a blanket. It was truly Avery’s dream come true. Aaron knows. They sat, laughed, Avery cried, Aaron could finally breathe and they fell deeper in love. A new chapter begins. It was the most magical night of their lives… here’s to just getting started.