The celebrating couple met at Kailua Beach located on Oahu, Hawaii, while Kate was just beginning college at Hawaii Pacific University and Erik was stationed in the Marine Corps at Kaneohe Bay. Erik provided the alcohol to the beach going college kids and Kate thought he was looking very tall and handsome, she worked up the courage to say "Hi!" Erik and Kate talked for hours on the beach that night and the rest in history. After seven years and many adventures together, they are currently loving life in northern Colorado and cannot wait to celebrate their love in one of their favorite places, Rocky Mountain National Park, surrounded by family and friends.

We took a quick trip in April of 2021 to visit friends in Seattle and explore a new National Park! After a night of partying with some of our best friends in Seattle, we wanted to grab brunch with the girls and their boys to say goodbye before Erik and I headed on our 3 hr drive to Olympic National Park on the WA coast. Everyone said they "were too hungover" and wished us well on our trip...which honestly same! We understood and started our long travels. Erik was excited to take me to "dinner" in the National Park once we arrived. Considering I was hungover, I asked if we could go to dinner the next night. Erik said we couldn't change our reservation time as the dinner event was very exclusive, offered on this night only and their farm to table menu changed daily. I asked 100 questions about the dinner, such as what the place is called, wanting to look up the menu, etc. I could tell all of my questions were stressing Erik out, but he answered every question quickly and I believed every word! I could tell the "dinner" was very important to him and I was excited for the adventure. It rained almost the entire drive to the National Park. As we approached Lake Crescent in Olympic the clouds parted and there was nothing but sunshine. Erik said we had to walk down a dock at Lake Crescent and the wait staff would come get us for our dinner. We had difficulty finding the right dock and he was texting the restaurant to keep in contact. I started to voice how this dinner continued to sound more and more sketchy. I was concerned he may have found his exclusive dinner deal on Craigslist and we were about to get robbed or murdered. We finally made it to the dock we were intended to walk down until our table was ready. Getting out of the car I asked "You're not proposing are you?" Erik said "Not yet! We are still waiting for our ring to be made!" I absolutely believed him. When we arrived there was a friend group having a cute picnic on the dock and I did not want to disturb them. I could feel Erik's anxiety building and he finally dragged me down to the end of the dock. Next thing I knew Erik dropped down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I honestly blacked out the majority of what he said due to the excitement. My hangover was cut short with nothing but joy and love for this beautiful man in this beautiful moment. Next thing I knew, our best friends we spent the night with before came running out of the woods onto the dock with happy screams and champagne in hand. They all had this day planned for months together and I had no idea! Erik went back to the ring shop and had our diamond placed on a regular band while our custom engagement ring was still in the works to propose with. I completely believed this dinner plan up until my best friend dropped to his knee and asked me to be his wife. I couldn't have asked for a more beautiful proposal in one of the most beautiful locations with some of our dearest friends. A cherished and funny memory to keep together forever!