I met Ryan the first day of our second semester of college. He was someone I latched onto quickly, and I always joke that I forced him to be my best friend. He was someone who made me comfortable, but also excited and challenged me. After a couple years of friendship, moving in together and working all the same shifts (I made the schedule), we started asking ourselves hard questions. Our connection seemed obvious to others, but not us, and we both valued our friendship too much to risk losing it. I spent a lot of time wondering if the strong feelings I had toward Ryan were because he was the best friend I'd ever had, or because I loved him differently. *Shocker* I loved him then, and more so now. I am so fortunate to have a partner that makes love feel effortless and who encourages our relationship to embody compassion, trust and a true sense of home. I am so excited to marry you and become wrinkly together. -Ashley ***** Ash was the first person that ever made me feel nervous and the most comfortable I have ever been at the same time. Our friendship started in college and I was surprised that everything was so effortless as all of our interests matched so perfectly. Over time and many good memories later, is when the nervousness came and I had to wrestle with the feelings of if I was in love with my best friend, and how to navigate those waters. As this was my first and only relationship, I guess I didn't mess things up... or Ash was just very patient. She will always be the only person that I want to be my whole self with, she makes me a better person every day. There is no one smarter, no one funnier, and no one with more love in her heart than Ash. -Ryan

As the sentimental sap of the relationship, I knew that I wanted to propose on September 4th (our anniversary) for the entirety of 2021. It just so happened to take place over the same weekend that we would be on a trip to the beautiful state of Montana for my equally as beautiful family wedding. Secretly with their permission, as to not take away from their big weekend, Ash and I took our own mini vacation to visit Yellowstone National Park. With an equal amount of planning but still a laid back attitude during the trip to not arouse suspicion, we were set to see all the sights and wildlife ending with the biggest question of my life. The morning of the 4th we got up bright and early to see the sunrise over the scenic Artist’s Point, a beautiful lookout seeing the cliffs and waterfalls. As we were viewing the namesake Yellowstone cliffs, we talked about how this was the perfect vacation for us and how excited we were for all of our future travels together. I told her I never wanted them to end, and asked her to marry me.