Emily's brother initially thought that she and Austin would hit it off, but Emily shut down the idea of going on a date with her brother's friend. Austin and Emily ended up meeting a year later in a church small group in Hillsboro right before the world shut down. They connected over running, hiking, and all things outdoors. The small group stayed connected through distanced park hangs which quickly became the best part of the week. They decided to date right as Austin took a new job in Bend. Long distance lasted through a covid infection and new puppy, but Austin ended up moving to Portland by December.

Austin and Emily enjoy hiking, kayaking, skiing, and exploring dog parks with their sweet pup Georgie. They have traveled to Texas together and have many bucket list items of places to explore; next on the list being a honeymoon in Puerto Vallarta! They are thankful for their supportive families in the greater Portland area and their St. Johns community of friends.

Austin took Emily to her favorite place; the Columbia River Gorge. It was their one year anniversary and Emily's cousins "happened" to be in town that weekend. When they arrived at their hike at Angel's Rest, Emily ran into her brother and two cousins along the trail. They each handed her a binder with love letters and pictures from Austin. The view at the top included Austin getting down on one knee and made for the most memorable day! (Only to find out later the hiccups that included a family member misplacing the ring the night before!)