Derek and Kelsey were both invited to dinner with a group of mutual friends. They ended up sitting across the table from one another, chatting (flirting) and getting to know each other. Derek didn't realize Kelsey was single, so when she left solo to pick up her mother from the airport, he immediately asked their friends for her phone number. That night, he reached out to her to ask her on a date- with a disclaimer: he was leaving on a 10 day backpacking trip, so they would have to wait for their first date. Unfortunately during the summer of 2018, wildfires ravaged a large part of the California landscape. This forced Derek to cancel his backpacking trip. He called Kelsey and invited her instead on a weekend camping trip with their mutual friends in Big Sur. While she was skeptical about such an intense first date, Kelsey packed her bags and headed up the coast with Derek. They had the 1.5 hour drive to the campsite to get to know each other before their camping adventure. That night under the stars with the waves crashing below their campsite, Kelsey and Derek fell in love.

After two wonderful years together, Derek and Kelsey began talking about their next steps. During the fall of 2019, they casually looked at engagement rings and dreamt about tying the knot. When the Covid-19 pandemic hit the country and forced life to shut down, they ultimately decided an engagement would have to wait. Or so Derek told Kelsey.... Sneaky Derek had the most stunning engagement ring made from a family friend and began plotting the perfect proposal! One weekend with perfect California weather, Derek drove Kelsey on the back of his Harley up the California coast to her favorite beach in Big Sur. As they walked along the tide, feet in the sand, Derek got down on one knee. Of course Kelsey was shocked but screamed YES- all while a few sweet friends hiding under beach umbrellas took photos. They popped champagne, drooled over the ring and began their dreams of a wedding all over again. After a glass of bubbly on the beach, Derek whisked Kelsey back to Shell Beach, where many more of their friends were waiting at the park by their house with an outdoor beachside engagement party. The champagne kept flowing as their hearts kept growing in love.