What started as two separate stories somehow became the best chapter yet. We feel incredibly lucky to have found each other and even luckier to have such amazing family and friends to celebrate alongside us. Thank you for being part of our lives and our love story. We can't wait to raise a glass, hit the dance floor, and celebrate with you!

Katie and Ray's story began on a sand volleyball court. After moving to the area for a new job, Ray decided it was time to find a new hobby and joined a local sand volleyball team. As fate would have it, Katie had already been playing on that team for a few years. What started as a random player pick up quickly turned into a season full of buying drinks for missed serves, birthdays and promotions, smack talk about football, and tournaments on the weekends. While they ended up not playing on the same team very often after that season (Ray moved up to the big leagues), they kept in touch through mutual friends and by seeing each other around the volleyball courts. Eventually, their friendship blossomed into something more as they realized just how much fun they had together. Whether they were searching for new restaurants to try, checking out local breweries, or adding a little friendly competition through their shared love of games, they found themselves looking for more and more reasons to spend time together. From the beginning, Katie was very upfront with Ray about two things she loved deeply: Minnesota and her family. She made it clear that she hoped to move back home someday, and thankfully, Ray didn't run for the hills. As a fellow transplant, Ray was open to taking a leap of faith, and together they decided to start their next chapter in Minnesota. After settling into their new home, Ray began planning a trip centered around some of Katie's biggest bucket-list destinations. At the base of a Giant Sequoia tree, Ray got down on one knee and asked Katie to spend forever with him. As if that wasn't enough, the celebration continued with a weekend in Napa Valley, complete with beautiful views, great wine, and the perfect start to their engagement. What started with volleyball, friendly competition, and a few shared drinks turned into game nights, new adventures, a cross-country move, and a lifetime of memories in the making. Not bad for two people who met while chasing volleyballs around a sand court.