Austin and Courtney first crossed paths at the wedding of their childhood friends, Chase and Mikalah. Though we spent the whole night at the celebration, we didn’t speak to each other or even know one another yet. However, when the wedding guests gathered for an after-party at Old Town Restaurant and Bar in Bastrop, Texas, we instantly headed off. The chemistry was undeniable, and we spent the rest of the night getting to know each other. The next day, Courtney took Austin on a tour of Rainey Street, a historic area in Austin, Texas. At the time, Austin was only in Texas for a day before returning to Illinois, where he lived. Over the next few months, our relationship blossom, despite the distance. We stayed connected through FaceTime, and as our love grew, we made regular trips to visit each other. We shared our favorite spots in both Texas and Illinois, each visit strengthening our bond. Six months after they met, Austin moved to Texas to be with Courtney. The rest is history.

It all began at the very spot where it all started: Mount Bonnell. Austin had known from the moment they first visited together that it would be the perfect place to ask Courtney to marry him. After all, it was on this scenic hilltop that he had first asked her to be his girlfriend, and it felt only right to return there to make a promise for their future. On that day, Austin told her they were going around visiting some of the spots she had shared with him from their early memories of traveling to visit each other. She had no idea that each stop was carefully planned to lead them back to Mount Bonnell, where, unbeknownst to her, he was about to make the most important gesture of their lives. The real surprise came when they reached the top of Mount Bonnell. As they were taking in the view, she turned around to find Austin down on one knee, holding out a ring. The moment was a blur of excitement, joy, and disbelief. Austin had kept the secret so well, and she couldn’t believe what was happening. To make sure they would remember the moment forever, Austin had arranged for a photographer to capture everything. He had been hiding in the bushes, snapping shots from a distance, ensuring that no moment was missed. After she said "yes," they were surrounded by some of their friends and family, who had been secretly waiting nearby to celebrate the moment. With love and laughter filling the air, it felt like the perfect conclusion to a beautiful day. The sunset over the water provided a breathtaking backdrop to the intimate moment, marking the perfect culmination of everything Austin had planned.