Garrett and I met in May of 2016 during a Fountain Valley High School fundraiser event called Dancing with the Stars. At the time, underclassmen from the football team and the dance team were paired up for a group dance at the end of the fundraiser—and you guessed it, we were matched together. Just 15 days later, on May 30, 2016, Garrett asked me to be his girlfriend, and neither of us knew then the beautiful love story we were beginning. Our high school years were filled with countless football games, dance competitions, school dances, and unforgettable Disneyland dates—it truly was the classic high school sweetheart story. In the fall of 2018, Garrett left for Arizona State University, and we experienced long distance for the first time. We each made many trips back and forth between California and Arizona, creating some of our favorite memories along the way. By the fall of 2019, it was no surprise to anyone that I joined Garrett at Arizona State University, continuing our journey side by side. Our college years were filled with countless fun nights out, sorority and fraternity events, and more personal growth than either of us ever expected. In 2023, Garrett graduated from ASU and took a sales position back in our hometown while I stayed behind to finish my last year of college—yep, long distance again. Once we both settled back in our hometown—Garrett working full-time and me working toward my Master’s—the pressure definitely started building for him to pop the BIG question. We moved in together in the Spring of 2024 and learned to love, support, and understand each other on a whole new level. On February 6, 2025, Garrett finally proposed! I had started to catch on when he suddenly took a surprising interest in what I was wearing that day, told me to get my nails done out of nowhere, and triple-checked that we were for sure going on the Duffy boat that morning. Both of our parents and my grandparents came along for the ride, and partway through, Kevin got a “random” phone call inviting us to join his friends on their boat. I was totally focused on making sure my grandparents were having a good time, so I was completely caught off guard. Garrett asked to take a photo at the front of the boat, and before I knew it—he was down on one knee! Yes, he picked out the most perfect ring, with NO assistance or guidance from me, what a man! It was truly the best day ever, and it only got better when he surprised me with my closest girlfriends and some of our family for a special engagement lunch right after. It was absolutely perfect—better than I ever could have imagined. To make life even sweeter, we welcomed the most adorable Goldendoodle puppy, Benson, into our little family a month or so later. And now, here we are, planning a wedding! We’re so excited to say ‘I do’ on our 10-year anniversary — the sweetest milestone that beautifully ties together the first chapter of our love story. We can’t wait to celebrate all the love that’s brought us here and all the adventures still to come! We feel so lucky to share this love story and can’t wait to celebrate the big day with our closest friends and family!