Pack your bags & get your passports!

In the summer of 2016, we’d both been on a break from dating for a while—and around the same time, we each decided it was time to put ourselves back out there. Kristina was getting ready to trade Chicago for Denver, and Ryan was focused on big goals of his own—career momentum, buying a house, and building the life he’d been working toward. When we matched on Bumble, Ryan was convinced he might finally meet a “super-rad snowboarder chic” (he only opened the app when he was in the mountains). Instead, he matched with a very enthusiastic soon-to-be Coloradan—who just so happened to be hiking Rocky Mountain National Park the day we connected. Not exactly what he expected… but somehow, it ended up being exactly right. We planned our first date quickly—Sunday brunch fit Ryan’s off-schedule work life—and it turned into the kind of day that feels easy from the very beginning. We started at Denver Biscuit Company and ended up talking like we’d known each other forever. One stop became several: the Denver Botanic Gardens, then the Museum of Nature & Science to cool down from the August heat. What was supposed to be “just brunch” turned into a full-day adventure—our favorite kind. We didn’t make it official until spring 2017 (after a short break that made it pretty obvious we missed each other), but even early on, we both knew this was something worth leaning into. And yes—Kristina has been working on becoming a “super-rad snowboarder chic.” Progress is… questionable. Effort? Undeniable.

In June 2023, we were in the San Diego area for a family wedding, and the day after, we squeezed in a surf lesson before our flight—because we’ve never been great at sitting still on vacation. At the end of the lesson—windblown, saltwater-soaked, and laughing—Ryan proposed. It was thoughtful, sweet, and perfectly “us”: outdoors, a little chaotic, and full of joy. And somehow, he surprised Kristina even though she’d had a feeling it might happen sometime that summer—just not that weekend, and definitely not right then. As if that wasn’t enough, Ryan’s family was hiding nearby at a restaurant, so we walked straight into a surprise celebration. It’s one of those days we’ll replay forever.

A destination wedding wasn’t our original plan. We first pictured a winter wedding at a ski resort—Ryan snowboarding into the ceremony and fully having his moment (still one of our favorite mental images). But once we started looking at the logistics and cost—especially with so many of our favorite people traveling in—we realized we didn’t want to squeeze everyone into a quick weekend. So we flipped the question: if we’re going to gather everyone in one place, why not make it an actual getaway? Something with breathing room—time to relax, laugh, explore, and share real moments together beyond just the ceremony. Our relationship has always been rooted in adventure—snow, water, trails, and everything in between—so when winter didn’t make sense, tropical felt like the perfect next chapter. We’ve loved our scuba diving trips to Belize and Saint Lucia, and we wanted to bring that same “island time” feeling to the people we love in a place that’s beautiful, celebratory, and easy to enjoy. That’s how we landed on Punta Cana, Dominican Republic: part wedding, part vacation, and completely us. We can’t wait to celebrate with the people who’ve helped shape us—and we really hope you’ll be there.

Choosing our wedding resort was the biggest decision we made, because we wanted to prioritize your experience above everything else. We were looking for a place that feels effortless—where guests can truly relax, do their own thing, and still come together for all the wedding moments. We chose Palace Resorts because they’re known for strong service and a well-run guest experience, and their wedding teams are fully in-house—which makes planning smoother and the celebration feel seamless once everyone arrives. Moon Palace The Grand Punta Cana is Palace’s debut in the Dominican Republic, and it’s been years in the making. What sealed it for us is the space and variety. This is a large, “resort-city” style all-inclusive, so no one should feel crowded—and you won’t be bumping into the wedding group constantly unless you want to. With 19 restaurants and bars, 9 pools, sports courts, a kids’ club, waterpark, spa, casino, and golf, there’s genuinely something for everyone. And for anyone craving a quieter vibe, there’s also an adults-focused area tucked away from the family zones—plus plenty of beach, beach bars, and room to spread out. In other words: you can make this vacation exactly what you want it to be and just happen to attend our wedding while your at it. Please go to the travel page and click on the button under the resort to book your room to officially RSVP!