we're eloping!

We met the old fashioned way (a dating app) at the end of Summer 2022 and have been inseparable ever since! Kyle tells it best: "The first date was good. Not only was she stunningly beautiful but Christie checked all the boxes and I was excited to go out with her again. The second date was the most fun I've ever had bowling. And by the third date, I was just trying to play it cool as if I wasn't completely head over heels for this girl. Fast forward a couple of weeks and somehow Christie was adventurous enough to agree to go camping with me and I'm so glad she did. Thor and Maggie (our dogs) became quick friends and we had a blast. Everything was so effortless and fun that I knew this was a person I could spend the rest of my life with. November 3rd cannot come soon enough!"

Since the "How We Met" was from Kyle's perspective, this one will be from Christie's perspective! Kyle tricked me into a sunrise canoe trip (for anyone who knows me...you know I was NOT thrilled about the idea of getting up at 4am and doing physical activity!). He sold it to me by saying our friend (and Kyle's former roommate) Sam's girlfriend, Virginia, had seen pictures of when Kyle and Sam did a similar sunrise canoe and she really wanted to do it. I figured it would be fun if I had enough coffee for the "road." We set out and paddled about a mile to a set of islands on Beaver Lake. Right as we were pulling up to the islands, we saw one of the most beautiful sunrises I've ever seen. The colors were absolutely breathtaking. We got out of the canoes to have a little breakfast (and more coffee) and decided to get some cute photos while the sunrise was still so beautiful. I took a candid photo of Kyle looking at the sunrise and he suggested that he should get some of me and of us together. Little did I know, "Hey Virginia, will you take our picture?" was the super secret keyword that something was about to happen! Virginia cued up her phone (which seemed totally normal to me) and when I turned around to take pics with Kyle...there he was. On one knee. Ring box backwards (hence why I hesitate in the video - you never want to assume it's a ring, right??). He says he had a whole speech planned, but all he could get out was, "Christie, will you marry me?" Of course I said YES! They brought stuff for mimosas and "charcuterie" (anyone who knows Kyle can imagine what that consisted of) and enjoyed the sunrise. We paddled back to eat some delicious baked quiche-esque breakfast Virginia made from scratch and nap (obviously I could not!!) until people came over later that night for fireworks. It was a perfect day!