Our story starts the old fashioned way—girl sees boy, boy sees girl and with an easy swipe of a thumb, it was "a match”. Yes, we must give the ol’ bumble app some credit, especially their generous match finding radius. As fate would have it, Kevin matched Catie who was seemingly a big fan of the wide-radius-tool and lived almost 5 hours south of Kevin, despite his distance parameters being more strictly defined. Over the weeks the chats flowed, phone numbers and fish pictures were exchanged, and eventually they set a date to meet. Their first date, March 2023, felt effortless—easy conversation, cheeky Kevin one-liners, and smiles that seemed permanently fixed on their faces. It left them both looking forward to next time and like this could be the beginning of sometime special. Kevin drove into Ashland the next morning for an immediate second date over breakfast burritos and coffee, and to meet Catie’s lovable German wire-haired Scout. Thankfully he approved of the match, and a pattern of meeting every chance possible was set into motion. It wasn’t long until Kevin’s ER schedule requests started to overlap with Catie’s Monday to Wednesday schedule, both taking advantage of every long weekend possible to meet up and enjoy one another’s company. After only 5-6 months it was pretty clear to Kevin he was falling for her, and while on a spectacular trip to Alaska chasing Silvers on the Kanektok River, he learned she felt love budding as well. Catie had sent him with a card that (as instructed) was opened riverside by the fire after an already extraordinary day of wild scenery and fishing. In it she expressed her love and made the trip even more unforgettable. The moment Kevin was back in cell service he called and made clear he felt the same. From there on the adventures continued, and their love for one another only grew stronger. Fishing the McKenzie, Rogue, and Metolius rivers of Oregon and McCloud River of California. Wine tasting in the Willamette and Applegate Valleys (and ruining “cheap wines” for Catie). Catching a Mariners game and sharing Kevin’s favorite Seattle sandwich at Paseo, before ferrying out and kayaking the Puget Sound of San Juan island. Soaking in the pools at Chico Hot Springs, dancing alongside Helena friends in wedding celebration, joining Kevin’s family exploring the pioneer mountains near their family cabin, and fishing the holy waters of the Madison in Montana. Joining Catie’s dad in Northern California to hunt pheasant, fish rainbows in Eagle Lake and go after the infamous Lahontan cutthroat of Pyramid Lake. Whether on the north Oregon Coast, around Ashland, somewhere far away or in between, they found the natural beauty and enjoyment of these places paled in comparison to the bliss felt in one another’s company. Soon it was less about where they were meeting or what they were doing, and more about simply being together.

In the Spring of 2025, Kevin and Catie were both lucky enough to spend 2 weeks off exploring Italy. It would be one of the longest spans of time they spent together uninterrupted, and while some might have viewed it as a test, for them it felt long overdue. In the months of planning and anticipation leading up, it was clear to both of them they wanted to spend their lives together. Catie worried about feeling anxious the whole trip wondering if any moment could be “the moment”, unable to relax, and in typical bold fashion asked Kevin if she should expect it. Kevin, who had very much hoped to do so, for months had been struggling to find the perfect ring and honestly answered he didn't think all the pieces could come together in time. Serendipitously, just weeks later Kevin found a ring that spoke to him and felt like it was made just for Catie--the perfect expression of his love for her. As Catie relaxed and settled into the idea of being able to enjoy the trip anticipation free, Kevin stressed about now choosing the perfect place and time in what would end up being a magical trip for both of them. May 3rd, 2025, was set to be a beautiful day exploring the Val D’Orcia in Tuscany. On multiple occasions Catie seemed posed to discover the ring he had hidden in a jacket at the bottom of their day pack—first dumping its contents onto the bed just before leaving for the day, and then later aggressively rifling through the bag in the van as we drove through stunning vineyards and rolling hills. Luckily the ring remained hidden (and Catie remained blissfully unaware as to why Kevin seemed so possessive of the backpack that day). Niccolo, their amazing host and guide in Tuscany, did a wonderful job in his role convincing Catie he was hoping to practice his photography. Catie was convinced it was just another part of the day when they pulled off the road to snap some photos, despite knowing it was something Kevin typically avoided. As the sun began to dip, and with cypress trees stretching in the distance before them, Kevin got down on one knee and gave Catie the best surprise. With tears on both sides, true surprise from Catie, and an overwhelming sense of shared love, Catie said yes. They haven't been able to stop reminiscing about their trip and look forward to returning one day a married couple. Returning home to separate dwellings, the pain of being apart after such a magical trip was amplified even further, and it was clear the long drives and stretches of time apart needed to end. While by no means an easy decision, they decided together to move to Southern Oregon near Catie’s family. As 2025 came to a close and 2026 began, so did their life under the same roof. 

As we continue into 2026, it is hard to put into words how excited we are for this next chapter of our relationship. Each and every one of you has had a role in shaping who we are, and in doing so have contributed to our love for one another. Neither of us can imagine life without the other, and are so happy to bring our friends and family together. We can’t wait to formally and forever express our love for one another in front of you—to laugh and cry, to dance and celebrate together. Thank you all for being a part of our lives, and we hope to see you Friday, June 12th!