J&E

Our story begins in early summer of 2015. I was 15 and Jay was 16. We started hanging out through mutual friends and eventually became inseparable. That summer was filled with joyrides in Jay's golf cart, boating and swimming on the lake, and lots of time spent with friends. Once Jay got his driver's license, we spent countless hours driving around. For the next year and a half, he happily drove me everywhere until I was old enough to get my own license. Our teenage years were full of adventure. We hiked, went quad riding, fished, swam at the lake, went on ice-cream dates, and spent warm evenings at the drive-in movies. We were even lucky enough to go to three proms together. We actually never had a single class together in high school; we only saw each other for about 2 minutes in the hall between classes. But no matter what we were doing, we’ve always found joy in the simple moments together. We shared one year of high school before Jay graduated and became an Operating Engineer. I later completed high school and college and became a video editor. As we got older, we turned our focus to health and wellness. We committed to the gym and a healthier lifestyle, and through hard work and dedication, Jay lost over 200lbs and I lost over 50lbs. No matter what we do, we’ve always had each other's love and support every step of the way. At just 20 and 21 years old, we purchased our first home and rental property together, and shortly after, welcomed two fluffy doodles into our lives: Thea and Oakley. Our first big dreams came true. From the start of our relationship, hiking has always been a part of our story. It began as a fun activity with friends, became a way to get healthy, and eventually grew into something we loved doing just the two of us. Seeking out epic views, wildflowers, lakes, and mountaintops together, even bringing our pups along. We’ve hiked hundreds of trails through the years, so it only made sense that our engagement would reflect that same spirit. Jay spent nearly a year secretly planning the most magical surprise trip to Montana. On July 11, 2025, we bundled up in 44-degree weather and hiked through the quiet morning to Hidden Lake Overlook in Glacier National Park. As the sun rose over the snow-covered mountain peaks and lit up the sky, Jay got down on one knee and, after nearly 10 years together, asked me to marry him. I literally screamed with joy! Another dream come true! The moment was everything we dreamed of and more. The scenery was absolutely unreal—pictures could never capture the full beauty of that morning. We spent the rest of the trip exploring Glacier, surrounded by the most stunning landscapes, and had an unforgettable photoshoot in all the best spots. After 10 amazing years together, we finally get to call each other "fiancé"! We are beyond excited to be getting married after spending the last decade growing up, evolving, and chasing our dreams side by side. We feel incredibly lucky to have met at such a young age and to have walked through so many life stages hand in hand. Though we’ve both changed over the years, we’ve grown together—and in doing so, built a beautiful life filled with love, laughter, furbabies, and endless memories. Here’s to forever! (Finally!)