Jennifer and Ian met on Austin's historic Rainey Street on Halloween weekend. It was Jennifer's first weekend out in Austin, Texas since living in Dallas for over a decade. Ian was dressed as a samurai for Halloween and confidently came up to Jennifer across a crowded room. Days after meeting, they went on their first date to Alamo Drafthouse and a walk around Townlake trail at sunset. They have been together since.
While there was a hunch Ian might propose during our Memorial Day weekend trip to Carmel, California, he completely surprised me before we left. Ian chose a meaningful spot—the iconic neon sign at the Austin Motel on South Congress. Since we live nearby and have taken countless walks through that area together, it was both familiar and unexpected in the best way. Ian wrote a custom poem for the occasion that was displayed on the Austin Motel sign, thoughtfully ending with 'Forever Begins.'