Our story began one crisp fall evening at the Les Schwab Amphitheater in Bend, Oregon. Charles was in town for a lacrosse tournament and some well-deserved fun with friends. His good friend and lacrosse teammate, Steve Tomsik, "encouraged" him to check out the Luke Bryan concert that same weekend. Without going into too much detail, let’s just say Charles and Steve found themselves at the concert last minute, thanks to some liquid courage and a few spontaneous decisions. Meanwhile, Lindsey had planned a girls' night out with her good friend, Jessie. The two had snagged Luke Bryan tickets months ago and were excited to finally enjoy some fun country music together. They were ready for a night of singing, dancing, and making memories. As the evening unfolded, both groups were having a blast, soaking in the music and the atmosphere. However, Lindsey and Jessie had one small issue: a random tall stranger kept blocking their view and was being very "bro-y" with his friend. This stranger seemed to keep ending up in their pictures (check the gallery for hilarious evidence!). Despite the minor annoyance, Lindsey and Jessie were determined to enjoy the concert. Eventually, they decided to move up and switch spots with Charles and Steve for a better view of the stage. It was in that moment of repositioning that Charles and Lindsey’s paths crossed. What started as a small shuffle for a better view turned into the beginning of something special. As Lindsey and Jessie settled into their new spot, they couldn’t help but laugh at the tall stranger’s antics. Charles, now enjoying his new spot, struck up a conversation with Lindsey, and sparks flew instantly. The rest of the night was a blur of laughter, conversation, and shared moments. By the time Luke Bryan finished his encore, it was clear that this chance encounter was anything but random. And that’s how a simple concert night turned into the start of a beautiful journey for Charles and Lindsey.

After a year and a half of dating, we decided it was time to take the plunge and move in together. We’d just wrapped up an epic July vacation—think sun-soaked days in Hawaii and breathtaking views in Lake Tahoe—and had already made the big decision: Charles would leave his firm and make the move from Portland to Bend. Right before the big move, Lindsey planned a special date night to celebrate our new adventure of living together and finally saying goodbye to those semi-long-distance weekend drives. It was going to be the start of something wonderful, and we were both excited. As we were about to leave the house, Charles asked Lindsey if she had forgotten anything. She went through her mental checklist a few times, especially when he said, "No, I think you're forgetting something." That's when Charles dropped to one knee and completely surprised Lindsey with a heartfelt proposal. Our simple date night quickly transformed into an engagement celebration at Bos Taurus in Downtown Bend, filled with love, laughter, and the promise of many more adventures to come!

Currently, we are living in Bend, Oregon, enjoying our time together with our two energetic dogs, Ellie and Oakley, and our cat, Medusa, who rules the house with her majestic presence. Life here is a wonderful whirlwind, filled with playful moments with the pets, school and lacrosse activities, spontaneous travel adventures, concerts, and, of course, wedding planning! Charles recently took a professional development break to focus on his studies for the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) exam. After countless hours of hard work and dedication, he proudly passed in March 2024! To top off this achievement, he was offered and accepted a full-time remote job as an Investment Analyst for a health insurance company. He’s been thoroughly enjoying his new role, embracing the challenges and opportunities that come with it. Lindsey has just wrapped up her second year as Dean of Students at the Bend-La Pine High School District, specifically at La Pine High School. She’s now soaking up her well-deserved summer vacation, relishing the break that we all fondly remember from our school days. With each passing day, we’re creating memories, enjoying the present, and looking forward to an exciting future together.