Hi Family & Friends, we hope you are all staying healthy and safe during these challenging and uncertain times. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances (a global pandemic) we have made the difficult decision to elope on our wedding date with just immediate family and bridal party (as circumstances allow). We are heartbroken that we will not be able to celebrate with each and every one of you, but we are so grateful to still be able to focus on what is most important about our wedding, our love for each other & becoming husband and wife! We love you all so much and want you to be involved in our special day as much as possible, even if that means virtually! While we are unable to live stream our vows due to wifi limitations, we will be hosting a ZOOM COCKTAIL HOUR! Please bring a beverage of your choice to toast with us on our wedding day from 5-6pm using the link below. We can't wait to see you all! ZOOM COCKTAIL HOUR LINK: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81599915488 We hope to see you all very soon in person! Stay safe and healthy! xo E + M

We met at a local dive bar in 2014, just down the street from where we live now. It was country line-dancing night, and Eric remembers spotting me on the dance floor spinning around in a flowery sundress and cowboy boots. After several (failed) attempts at asking me to dance, I finally agreed and we two-stepped for what would be the first of many line dancing dates to come. We talked together all night and when the night finally came to an end, he asked me for a ride home. I was very hesitant (stranger danger!!) but he insisted I come meet his puppy. He proceeded to pull out his phone and show me pictures of our lab Ruca when she was only a few months old. After seeing one picture of Ru I agreed, and made it clear that I was ONLY taking him home to meet the puppy. When I got inside Ruca was FULL GROWN and I realized I had fallen for the greatest pickup line of all time. We exchanged phone numbers, I went home, and he texted me the next morning. We went on our first date a month later, for all you can eat tacos on Taco Tuesday. We continued to talk and see each other regularly, and I was instantly smitten with his chivalry, kindness, and hilarious sense of humor. A few months later we were official, and the rest is history.

That morning Eric asked me if I wanted to go take the dogs out to run around since they had been cooped up all day. I agreed, and we headed on a 1.5 hour drive up to Figueroa Mountain, a spot we had visited before for date days and picnics. Eric had planned to propose at the Fig Lookout, but when driving up to the entrance he learned it was closed. He decided to keep driving and picked a random spot to pull over and get out. The spot was incredibly gorgeous, with insane views of the Santa Ynez valley and a beautiful oak tree. We played with the dogs for a while before Eric suggested we take a family photo. He pulled his truck up and started playing music while I set the phone up on timer mode and attempted to rally the pups for the photo under the big oak tree. He had our song (Pushing up Daisies, by the Brothers Osborne) playing right as we were going to take the picture, and went to "check" the picture but switched it to video. As we were "posing" for a picture, he turned, got down on one knee, and said the most heartfelt and romantic proposal I could have ever dreamed of (which we now have saved on video to remember forever!). After I said yes (and cried a lot), we sat on the mountain overlooking the valley, drank champagne, carved our initials into our new favorite tree, and celebrated just the two of us for a couple hours. We loved being in our little bubble where we were the only two people on the planet that knew we were engaged, before heading back down the mountain and telling all our family and friends. It was a time we will never forget!