We’re Getting Married !

The View - Philipsburg PA

What started as a typical conference in the middle of the desert turned into the best thing that could have happened to us. Lena was completing her masters degree in Oregon while Matt was completing his in West Virginia. Lena asked a college friend who happened to be attending the conference to lunch. Prior to leaving for lunch she invited the rest of her graduate group, one of them being Matt. We spent to rest of the trip trying to “run into each other”. Fast forward a few months, while Lena was back in Morgantown for a football game Matt asked Lena to be his girlfriend. We spent to next year and half doing a long distance relationship across country and through COVID. At the end of 2020 once both Lena and Matt had finished their degrees or could work remote. Lena decided to moved back East. Following a few months of living in Ohio with her parents Lena moved in central PA. Since November of 2020 Lena and Matt have been enjoying living in central PA.

From the start of our relationship travel and hiking has always played a big roll. Our engagement is ended up being no different. Matt and Lena planned a trip out west to explore Yellowstone and Grand Tetons NP. It was in Yellowstone during a hike down to the river Matt asked Lena to marry him. Setting the scene: While viewing a waterfall in the northern section of the park Matt convinced Lena to take the trail down to the river. Following a short hike down they began to explore the river area. Following the side of the cliff they climbed around to see where a small path lead. Matt asked Lena to set her phone up to take a video (something Lena does often when they are out solo hiking to get photos). Following a few poses Lena turned to face the river and when she turned back around Matt was down on one knee. Lena said yes and happy tears were flowing.