We're getting married!

Mike and Jess’s story began in 2018 at a house party at CU. At first just a friend of a roommate's girlfriend, Jess quickly became something much more special. A couple months later, they went on their first date in Estes Park, not far from where they’ll say “I do.” A couple months later, they faced their first major hurdle when Mike was deployed to Afghanistan. What could have ended such a new relationship instead revealed how strong the love already was. They talked whenever they could, Jess sent letters and photos nearly every week, and Mike supported Jess from afar as she trained for and ran her first ultramarathon. With a strong foundation in place, they spent the next six years building a life together, celebrating exciting milestones: Jess earning her Master’s degree, Mike landing his first engineering job, buying their first homes, welcoming a second husky into the family, and eventually moving in together. In December 2024, Mike and Jess got engaged on a horse-drawn sleigh ride just outside of Breckenridge, an unforgettable moment and the start of their next chapter together.