In October 2022, the digital winds of fate connected these two for the very first time. They matched on Hinge and quickly exchanged numbers. Just as quickly as they dove into the world of texting, the conversation fizzled out before the spark even had a chance to began. Little did they know, God had already planted the seed. Weeks passed, and the world of swipes and matches spun on until they crossed paths again. This time, Peyton was instantly intrigued by the memory of their first exchange weeks prior. Nate, however, was starting anew, with no recollection of their prior match. As they began talking again, Nate decided to take a chance and asked for Peyton’s number once more. When he saved her contact in his phone, a curious thing happened: Nate discovered he already had Peyton’s contact information. The phone even brought up their previous text thread from their first match when Peyton had vanished from Nate’s messages. That moment of rediscovery felt like a gentle nudge from God. It was as if the seed he planted was beginning to grow in the form of a second chance.

Their first date was on December 4, 2022, and they picked Blue Sushi Sake Grill in Downtown Denver as their spot. Peyton showed up about 10 minutes late because she’d insisted on parking in her “free” garage, which she thought was just around the corner. Little did she know, it was actually a 15-minute walk from the restaurant. Despite the delay, Nate patiently waited, and when Peyton finally arrived, they spent the next couple of hours enjoying great food, laughing, and sharing stories. At the end of the evening, Nate offered to walk Peyton to her car. She politely declined, but Nate wasn’t taking no for an answer. Peyton, not wanting to ruin the mood, kept quiet about the fact that her car was nearly a mile away. So, off they went, strolling through the streets of Denver, chatting and getting to know each other even better. It turned into an unexpected but delightful adventure. Looking back, they always chuckle about that long walk from Blue Sushi Sake Grill. At least Nate got a taste of their future together right from the first date!

They had a fun trip planned to Steamboat Springs, Colorado, for the Hot Air Balloon Festival over a long weekend. On July 26, 2024, as they were heading to Steamboat Springs, Nate suggested they make a detour to check out Fish Creek Falls, a scenic hiking spot just outside of town. They hiked the short trail to the base of the falls, soaking in the views, and then tackled the Overlook Trail for an even better view. As they reached the end of the trail, Nate started talking about their future together, just as Ian Munsick’s song “More Than Me” began playing from a hidden speaker. With the perfect backdrop and the song setting the mood, Nate dropped to one knee and asked Peyton to marry him. To Peyton’s surprise, as soon as she said yes, her sisters popped out from the bushes and her parents emerged from behind Nate. It was an incredible moment, perfectly planned and full of love.