Love, Laughter & Happily Ever After

If you grew up in a small town, you know that even if you don't really know someone, that doesn't make them a stranger – rather, a friend you haven't gotten to know as well just yet. Such was the case for Cassie Sue and Brett Lee. Jumping back to 2010, to the hallways and open-air quads of Colfax High School, we have 15-year-old Cassie, and 16-year-old Brett – two teenagers who'd grown up with each other from a distance, as you do in a small town, connecting through friends and the sports they both played, but never directly colliding paths. That all changed the day when Cassie tapped Brett on the shoulder in the quad one afternoon and asked to wear his jersey to the upcoming football game. It was a high school tradition that usually had the football players asking a friend or special someone to wear their jersey on game day, but Cassie knew what she wanted – as has always been her style – and she wasn't wasting time with the particulars. Brett didn't hesitate, pulling the jersey from his backpack to give to Cassie. He was also one to know his own mind, so you might call this moment a bit serendipitous. Whether they knew it then or not, it was that moment they would come back to over the years – knowing that the life they're building together, and all the adventures they would share down the road, stemmed from that one tap on the shoulder. It was a simple gesture, it was a small town, but Cassie and Brett have always lived with purpose and passion. As the youngest of both of their large, loud, and rambunctious families, they learned from an early age to go after what they want. In the almost 10 years since that day on the quad at Colfax High School, they have proven that again and again, growing up together while carving out a relationship and friendship that goes beyond a high school love story. Only time will tell what upcoming adventures their future together holds, but one thing is guaranteed: a tap on the shoulder is all they'll need to succeed.

On the evening of their 8-year anniversary, after dinner at a favorite restaurant, Brett proposed to Cassie in the driveway of her childhood home. It was an intimate and significant moment they’ll treasure for the rest of their lives, but let's rewind a bit. You see, Cassie Sue is not the most patient person in the world – as noted earlier, when she wants something, she will go after it with full focus and energy. Brett knows this about Cassie – probably better than anyone – and he’s her perfect match for keeping her on her toes. It’s a give and take that is hilarious to watch play out, and never more so then when Cassie was waiting for Brett to propose. 2018 had been a busy year for Cassie and Brett, and Cassie had hoped that “THE” moment might occur during one of their trips or adventures together – while it hadn’t, this didn’t stop Cassie from getting her nails done every week, as a “just in case” precaution, she would say to her sisters. Yes, the heckling by her sisters was nonstop when they found out about this. Leave it to Brett, though, to completely surprise Cassie. Using whatever magic power Brett has (side note: Cassie’s sisters would like to know what this is, and how it can be bottled and shipped to them), they went to dinner that night with Cassie completely unaware of what was to come. The best part? Cassie had gotten tired of the nail salon visits and was manicure-free when Brett presented her ring to her. Yes, her sisters still heckle her about this as well. All said and done, it just goes to show the level of humor and connection that Brett and Cassie bring to each other’s lives. When you’ve grown up together the way they have, there comes with it a deeper appreciation of your partner’s quirks and lovable characteristics. As Brett got down on one knee and proposed marriage to Cassie that night in the driveway, 8 years of life and laughter and love shared between them, there was no doubt that this next adventure is sure to be the best yet.