Liz grew up on Gun Lake in the small town of Middleville, Michigan. The Paxton family bought their cottage nearby in 2006, and the Paxton boys quickly became friends with the Cutlip girls, spending summer nights playing Ghost in the Graveyard with the rest of the neighborhood kids. Andrew and Liz don't remember exactly when they first met, but by middle school they were spending their summers together. In high school, they bonded over sports and college recruiting and eventually became best friends, texting and FaceTiming whenever Andrew wasn't at the lake and spending countless rainy days at the "Cheap Theater." They stayed close through college, talking each other through relationships and breakups. Despite a high school marriage pact that if they were both single at 30 they'd marry each other, they insisted they were strictly friends. Whenever someone asked why they weren't dating, the answer was always the same: "We're such good friends, why risk losing that?" After college graduation, Andrew and Liz had one last month together at Gun Lake before Andrew moved to San Francisco. Somewhere along the way, they both started developing feelings for each other, though neither was willing to admit it. The week before Andrew moved, they made plans to see *Top Gun: Maverick* at the Cheap Theater. Andrew thought it might finally be a date and showed up in his parents' Mustang convertible... only to find out Liz had invited her parents along. A month later, Liz flew to California to visit her best friend. When she arrived at Andrew's apartment in Oakland, he had stocked her favorite snacks, set up her bed, and even put an "Emerald" candle in the bathroom because it matched her birthstone. That was the moment Liz thought, "I think something is going to happen." The next night, they went out in the Marina, and on the Uber ride home, Liz finally kissed Andrew. The rest of the trip was bliss. They explored San Francisco and went on what Liz considers their first date at Trattoria Contadina, complete with champagne and gnocchi that miraculously cured her hangover. By the time Andrew dropped Liz off at the airport, they had officially decided to give dating a shot. They joke that everyone else knew they'd end up together long before they did. They're just grateful they took their time and found the rare kind of love built on more than 15 years of friendship.

A couple of weeks before the proposal, Andrew casually asked Liz if she wanted to go to a wine tasting and property tour at Spring Mountain. He explained that his dad had received a complimentary tasting through one of his many wine club memberships—a completely normal occurrence for them. When their friends Charlie and Keeley invited them to stay the night in Napa and grab dinner afterward, nothing about the weekend seemed out of the ordinary. In fact, just a week earlier, Liz had been FaceTiming her best friend, McKenna, who asked if she thought an engagement might be coming soon. After such a busy spring, Liz didn't think so. She figured it would happen eventually, but wasn't expecting it anytime soon and was happy to let it happen whenever the timing felt right. What Andrew didn't account for was that Liz had been sick all week and was completely exhausted after several long workdays. The last thing she wanted to do was get her nails done, but after breaking one badly on Thursday and needing to look presentable for a work conference, she reluctantly made an appointment Friday night. Looking back, it turned out to be perfect timing. The morning of the proposal, Liz was in no rush. She threw on jeans, a tank top, and a light shawl while Andrew was noticeably more dressed up. When she asked if she might be cold, Andrew suggested she change into something warmer. Still completely unsuspecting, she slept in, did her makeup in the car on the drive to the winery, and spent the ride texting McKenna about what shoes to buy for another friend's wedding. The only thing that seemed slightly unusual was that Andrew had his phone on Do Not Disturb, but even that wasn't enough to raise any red flags. When they arrived at Spring Mountain, they were greeted by an ATV that would take them up the mountain to one of the property's scenic overlook points. During the ride up, Liz chatted with their host, who happened to be planning his own wedding. As a self-proclaimed "professional bridesmaid," she happily spent the drive talking all things weddings—never imagining the conversation was about to become much more personal. Once they reached the top, their host explained that they liked to serve champagne there because it offered the best view in the valley. As Liz wandered around taking in the scenery and snapping photos, she noticed Andrew wasn't taking any himself. She briefly thought it was a little strange. Then Andrew got down on one knee. Liz was completely bamboozled. Moments later, she realized a photographer had been quietly capturing the entire proposal. As if one surprise wasn't enough, Andrew revealed that they weren't actually staying with Charlie and Keeley that night. Instead, he had planned a stay at the beautiful Alila Napa Valley, where they celebrated together, called their families, and ended the evening with dinner at a Michelin-starred restaurant. The surprises didn't end there. Months later, Liz learned that the engagement ring had been hiding in plain sight the entire time. Back in January, the two had done a full closet cleanout together. When Liz found an old toiletry bag sitting on the top shelf of Andrew's closet, she insisted he should donate it because he never used it. Andrew was unusually adamant that he wanted to keep it "just in case." As it turned out, that old toiletry bag had been hiding the ring for months. After nearly two decades of friendship, Andrew still managed to surprise Liz completely—and it was the easiest "yes" she'd ever say.