We first met back in 2014 when we were both in the same 7th grade math class. Our teacher had a strict no-gum policy, and we were always getting caught breaking it—together. We sat close to each other in that class, and on the day of a big chapter test, one of us was whispering to the other. Wanting to hear better, Dawson got up from his desk and walked over to the table. Our teacher assumed we were cheating, and we both ended up with F’s on the test. After a year of being friends, we started dating in 8th grade. One of our favorite memories from that time was celebrating our first Valentine’s Day together in 2015—with a handmade sign, a stuffed bear, and photos at the Maria Field. We used to get caught holding hands at the benches in middle school and spent so many days just walking down First Street, talking and laughing. We dated all throughout high school, making some of our best memories together. We supported each other in our sports, went to every homecoming as a couple, and celebrated every milestone side by side. When we graduated in 2019, we both knew our story was just getting started. As Miranda got accepted to San Diego State University and Dawson joined Local 3 for construction, we began chasing our dreams—always cheering each other on. Even through long distance, we made it work, with Dawson visiting San Diego often. Eventually, we moved into our first apartment together in Davis as Miranda continued her journey to becoming a teacher—and the rest is history. We couldn’t imagine taking any other path to get to where we are now. Even at 15 years old, we somehow knew—we were each other’s forever.

We got engaged during a surprise trip to Big Sur, and it couldn’t have been more perfect. Miranda had just gotten back from a quick trip to Santa Barbara to visit family with her brother and sister-in-law. On the way home, they stopped for gas—and that’s when Dawson pulled up in his truck to pick her up. When Miranda got into the car, she noticed that every single dress from her closet was packed into the back seat. Still having no clue what was going on, she soon found out Dawson had planned a surprise weekend getaway to a cozy cabin in Big Sur. We spent the weekend hiking to waterfalls and soaking in the breathtaking views along the coast. On the evening of June 28th, Dawson told Miranda he wanted to take her to see a special spot by the water before dinner. When we pulled up, he led her to a beautiful cliffside—and that’s where he got down on one knee and asked the big question. His speech was full of love and talked about how we make each other’s lives better, and how much we’ve already grown together. Happy tears were definitely shed, and to top it all off, Dawson had arranged for a photographer to capture the moment. Big Sur will forever hold a special place in our hearts. It's where we began this new chapter—soon to be "The Hunts"!