We met in a friend's dorm room during our first week at the University of Kansas and stayed friends throughout our freshman year. During the last week of school, Lucas kissed Emily before leaving for summer break. We didn’t see each other again until the start of the fall semester.

One night, after an evening out at Bullwinkle’s bar, Emily turned to Lucas and asked if he wanted to be her boyfriend. He said yes without hesitation—and from that moment on, the rest was history.

After graduating in the middle of a global pandemic, we figured there was no better time to take a leap—so we packed up everything we owned and moved clear across the country to Beaverton, Oregon. It just so happened to be the hottest week of the year, and our new apartment was on the third floor with no elevator and no air conditioning. It wasn’t easy, but we made it work. And in those first few months, we embraced the adventure, exploring every corner of the Pacific Northwest together.

After a year in the suburbs, we made the move to a historic loft in downtown Portland—and we’ve been living in the Pearl District ever since. In our free time, we love discovering new restaurants, hiking the beautiful nearby trails, and hitting the road to explore the West Coast and beyond.

During a beautiful weekend getaway in the coastal town of Lincoln City, Oregon, Lucas proposed and we are officially engaged! We're excited to begin the next chapter of our lives and can’t wait to celebrate this special news with our friends and family.