(Cole’s Perspective) Sydney and I first crossed paths at a church event in college, right before I graduated. I had heard her name spoken before—people always describing her as Christ-centered, outgoing, and full of joy. Our initial encounter was brief, but she made an impression on me—one of those moments you don’t think much about at the time, yet never fully forget. Truth be told, I remember thinking how lucky I would be to be with a woman like her. After nearly two years of tremendous growth, prayer, and preparation, I stumbled across Sydney’s profile on Hinge. I messaged her, commenting on her cowgirl boots, and from the very beginning our conversations felt effortless and genuine, which was incredibly refreshing. Thankfully, she agreed to go on a first date. That first date almost didn’t happen after Sydney had a rough day at work, but she still showed up—and I am forever grateful she did. I’ll never forget the way she looked that night, absolutely stunning. What followed was an evening filled with dinner, laughter, and mini golf (which Sydney did beat me at), marking the beginning of our story. I quickly fell in love with Sydney, and by some miracle, she did the same with me. Through countless adventures, laughter, and faith-filled moments, it became clear that we weren’t just dating—we were building a friendship and partnership meant to last a lifetime.

(Sydney's Perspective) Our proposal was nothing short of magical and cinematic. Cole surprised me in the most unexpected way — knowing my career revolves around planning and logistics, he “brought the game to me” on a beach in California for a Sunday sunrise, the last day of my extended work trip. I knew he had asked for my parents’ blessing, but I had no idea he could secure a ring in the time it took us to fly out. Not only did he have my dream ring, he booked a photographer and kept it all under wraps — in just a few days. We spent the weekend hiking, surfing, enjoying beach bonfires with new friends, cruising along the Pacific Coast Highway, and indulging in lots of good food. Like any girl does, I had my little suspicions that he might pop the question on Saturday — our only full day — but he didn’t. (He did, however, manage to get his shoes stolen… another story for another time.) Then Sunday morning, before our flights, we made our way to Treasure Island in Laguna Beach. We stopped for coffee, which started as “for here,” but after the first sip, Cole said, “Let’s switch to to-go cups.” My suspicions continued to grow — earlier that morning, he’d walked out in the nicest pants I’d ever seen him wear. A rare sighting, haha! Once we reached the beach, it was breathtaking — cliffs, breaking waves, morning light, and incredible flora and wildlife. As we made our way down to the sand, I was distracted by the scenery, and Cole grew serious. He set my coffee down, took both of my hands, and said words I’ll never forget: “I’ve waited and prayed that the Lord would reveal my wife to me and prepare me for her. And now, with full confidence, I can say she’s standing right in front of me.” I sobbed, rejoiced, and fell to my knees. I didn’t even answer before Cole laughed and said, “I’ll take that as a yes!” The surprises didn’t stop there. A couple on the beach turned out to be our photographer, capturing every moment. We were prayed over by the kindest woman as we rinsed the sand off our feet, and the rest of the day was filled with celebrations — FaceTimes with family, cheers from strangers, and small, unforgettable moments that ushered us home.