Our story began at the Andaz on Maui, where we were both spending the summer on dog-sitting adventures. Kim was living in Tampa and Justin in Denver, but hockey brought us together. Our first connection sparked during game two of the Stanley Cup finals, with Kim enthusiastically cheering on the Tampa Bay Lightning and Justin backing the Colorado Avalanche. Kim was full of sass about Tampa’s back-to-back championships, but fate—and the Avalanche—had other plans. Tampa lost that game 0-7, and Colorado went on to win the series. Despite the rivalry, we quickly discovered an undeniable connection beyond sports. The summer flew by with shared beach walks and easy conversations, and by the end of it, Justin was already planning for Kim to visit him in Denver. Kim’s first trip to Denver included an unexpected role—supporting Justin through his first surgery after he broke his foot in a mountain biking accident. True to his word, Justin still managed to take Kim to a Jack Johnson concert, showing us early on that we truly are "better together." Photos from that concert are in our gallery. We soon began monthly rotations between Tampa and Denver, sharing our local favorite places, meeting each other's friends and family and creating many new memories. After a year, Kim moved to Denver to begin graduate school, and we took the next step together. A year later, we got engaged, marking the beginning of a new chapter. Life in Denver brought many “firsts” for Kim. Justin taught her how to ski, patiently guiding her through snowy adventures on Vail’s challenging slopes—not an easy feat for a beginner from the East Coast! He even removed all the grass from the front yard so she could create a garden - one of her passions- and plant dozens of varieties of vegetables and flowers. Kim transitioned from a lifetime of warm weather and endless summers to embracing Denver’s seasons, finding joy in snow days and building snowmen in the front yard. Together, we’ve driven across the country twice, returned to Maui, explored Mexico, and recently welcomed a mini poodle named Liko, meaning “new beginnings” in Hawaiian—a fitting addition to our growing family. The photo below was taken during that unforgettable first week on Maui, right where we will soon say “I do.” From the very beginning, our relationship has been easy, safe, kind, and full of laughter. We can’t wait to celebrate this next chapter with all of you.