We're getting married!

Over three years ago, we were living very different lives, but fate had a way of bringing us together. It all started on the Hinge app, which we both had mixed feelings about. For Cody, it started as a typical weekend visiting friends from OCS school in Oceanside. After a fun night out at the bars, he decided to check out the Hinge app. While swiping, no one really caught his attention—until he saw Kati’s profile. With her beautiful smile and her Golden Retriever, he was intrigued. After noticing the many things they had in common, he swiped right, not expecting much. But months later, he got a notification that Kati had liked him back. Excited, they began messaging and immediately hit it off—her intelligence, humor, and charm were everything he was looking for. The only catch? She was three hours away in Fallbrook. For Kati, she had downloaded Hinge one night after some wine and line dancing with friends. She hadn’t thought much about it, but two months later, when she checked the app, she was bombarded with hundreds of notifications. After swiping through a few, she came across Cody's profile—his photos caught her eye, and something about this wholesome-looking man stood out. Swiping right, she had no idea that this was the beginning of something truly special. She didn’t realize Cody was a Marine (since she didn’t ask about his job) until their first date. She also didn’t know he was visiting friends in Oceanside when they matched, but it was clear from the start they had a deep connection. Their first date was at Miguel’s Mexican Restaurant in Carlsbad. Cody, a little shy but genuinely sweet, immediately made a lasting impression. The chemistry between them was undeniable, and the conversation flowed effortlessly. Afterward, they walked around, talking more and getting to know each other better. By the end of the night, both were already thinking, “I can’t wait to see this person again.” They quickly made plans for a second and then a third date. One of those dates was in Old Town Temecula, which turned into an even more memorable night, including dinner at The Gambling Cowboy and dancing at Stampede. By the end of the night on January 7, 2022, Cody asked Kati to be his girlfriend—and how could she say no? But as wonderful as their connection was, the next couple of years weren’t easy. With Cody living in Twenty-Nine Palms and Kati in Fallbrook, they spent the next couple of years navigating a long-distance relationship, only getting to see each other every few weeks. Many weekends were filled with long drives (about 2.5 to 3 hours each way), never wanting to leave each other, and a six-month deployment to Japan—undoubtedly the hardest six months of their lives. Eventually, Cody received orders to Camp Pendleton, bringing them closer together and allowing them to finally live under the same roof. It was the start of a new chapter, and from there, they began building a life together—complete with Kati’s (now Cody's too!) little zoo of animals: Laney Mae, Henry, Camo, and Dolly Parton. In the midst of it all, they adopted Georgia, making their family complete—for now. After what felt like a lifetime of waiting, the moment finally arrived. Cody knew Kati had always dreamed of a special proposal, so he carefully planned the perfect day. He took her to Europa Village, her favorite winery, and led her to the serene Italian Garden—a place they both loved. Surrounded by vines and beautiful scenery, Cody got down on one knee and asked Kati to spend the rest of her life with him. Overwhelmed with joy and love, Kati, of course, said yes! It was a perfect moment, just the two of them, marking the beginning of their next great adventure together. Now, as the soon-to-be Wilsons, we are more excited than ever to continue building our future together, growing our family, and experiencing all that life has to offer. We can’t wait to celebrate our love with all of you!