Holy sh*t, we are getting married!

Some love stories begin with a grand, serendipitous moment—but ours started with a well-orchestrated setup by a mutual friend. In 2009, Lauren’s coworker, who happened to be dating Jacob’s best friend, decided we needed to meet. Without hesitation, she set us up for a blind date, passing each other's phone numbers off to the other. By the end of the night, we were nervously messaging each other, setting plans for a double date just three days later. When that day arrived, we met at Jerisich Park in downtown Gig Harbor—each of us incredibly nervous but grateful to have our friends by our sides. After some small talk, the four of us decided on dinner at Fondi, where we shared pizza, good conversation, and took our very first photo together. Not ready for the night to end, we extended our date with a movie, filling the time in between by wandering through Borders bookstore. For over two years, we built a relationship filled with love, adventure, and countless memories. But as life often does, it led us down separate paths for a time. We spent the next few years growing, changing, and navigating young adulthood—always somehow finding our way back to each other, even if just as friends. Then, in early 2021, we realized our love story wasn’t finished. We picked up where we left off, but with a deeper appreciation for our separate paths and the journey that brought them back together. Four years later, here we are—happier than ever, engaged, and ready to begin the next chapter of this long and beautiful story.

We already shared a love for live music when we attended our first concert together in 2009—seeing one of Jacob's favorite bands, Explosions in the Sky, in Portland, Oregon. That night became unforgettable not just for the music, but because it was the first time we told each other, “I love you.” Since then, concerts (especially Explosions in the Sky) have been extra special occasions for us. In early 2023, Lauren surprised Jacob with tickets to the band’s 20th-anniversary show for their album The Earth Is Not a Cold Dead Place in Portland. Because it was an anniversary show, the band played the album from start to finish, guaranteeing they would hear Lauren’s favorite song, “Your Hand In Mine.” While Lauren booked the hotel and they made general plans for the weekend, Jacob was making plans of his own. Unbeknownst to Lauren, Jacob worked with one of her best friends to purchase an engagement ring with the intention to propose at the concert. As the band played the final song of the album—Lauren’s favorite—Jacob shared some beautiful words with Lauren, got down on one knee and asked, "Will you marry me?" Lauren was shocked and after checking if he was serious (DUH, GIRL) a handful of times, she said yes!