We went on our first hike together in Kaneohe, Hawaii. We took our dog there for his first hike, and it became a special place. I (Katie) took family and various friends up there throughout 2019, as well as our dog Sydney for her first hike. When Zach asked me to go on that hike on NYE, it was a normal ask. We hiked to the top, stopping midway for a “lookout”, but really to let another couple pass, so we could have a better chance at alone time at the top. 😉 Once they left and we were alone, Zach asked me to stand up and he was kneeling on top of an old military bunker when I turned around. He essentially asked me to spend the rest of my life with him and made it known he did not want to embark upon a new year without me knowing his intentions. I said “yes”, and here we are!

People often ask us how we first met. Every couple gets this question, right? Today, you hear people say they met online, they were each other's high school sweethearts, college relationship, worked together, etc. How did we meet? In a bar. How cliche! We met at the Irish Rose Saloon on the night of Santa Con in Waikiki on Oahu, Hawaii. Zach says Katie was the "angel who walked into his life", as she was dressed as an angel. We quickly hit it off and the ultimate funny was Zach inputting his information into Katie's phone as "The Love Of Your Life". (It still says that! or as Siri likes to say, "The Love of Your Life Zach 2 hearts) He couldn't have been more right, since she said "yes" to the love of her life on 12/31/2019. Their relationship has grown in Hawaii with more adventures than they can count. While they officially tied the knot on 24 October 2020, they can't wait to finally celebrate their marriage with family and friends, old and new, in the picturesque mountains of North Carolina.