We're Getting Married!

It all began in the spring of 2015 outside Scottsdale Stadium. Maryssa was patiently waiting by the gates, hoping for autographs from the San Francisco Giants. Just after securing Madison Bumgarner’s signature, she felt a tap on her shoulder. When she turned around, she met Dave and his son, Ryan. Dave sparked the first conversation, asking how long she had been waiting. Moments later, he introduced Ryan—and that small introduction became the start of something much bigger. Maryssa and Ryan spent the rest of the pre-game chatting, and just before first pitch, Ryan shyly held out his phone and asked, “Can I have your number so we can be spring training buddies?” What followed were the sweet beginnings of a teenage friendship: Ryan convincing his parents to watch Maryssa’s softball tournaments in the summer heat, and Maryssa asking her dad to drive her to Ryan’s Friday night baseball games. While their relationship didn’t begin right away, their connection only grew stronger as they stayed in touch almost daily. Fast forward to 2020—Ryan was playing baseball at Ohlone, and after years of asking, Maryssa finally went to watch one of his games. Soon, they found themselves spending more and more time together. When COVID-19 abruptly shut the world down, it unexpectedly gave them the gift of time—quarantine days spent side by side, building the foundation of what would become their relationship. The years that followed weren’t always easy. With Ryan in San Diego and Maryssa in Reno, they spent three years navigating long distance. Countless Southwest flights, late-night phone calls, and weekend visits became their normal, and while the distance was hard, it only strengthened their bond. When the long distance finally ended, they embraced life together as a “normal” couple. After five years of memories, adventures, and growth, Maryssa wanted Ryan to experience Whitefish, Montana, together—a place close to her family’s heart. What she didn’t know was that Ryan had been carrying a ring, ready to ask the most important question of his life. On that road trip—complete with kayaks strapped to the roof and bikes on the back, reminiscent of something out of National Lampoon’s Vacation—Ryan proposed. That trip became one of their most cherished memories, marking the beginning of the next chapter in their story—a chapter they now look forward to sharing with all of you.