Over four years ago at the University of Kansas, Emma met someone who would unknowingly set her whole future in motion: Loretta Medina (bridesmaid!). The two became friends in a large biology lecture while searching for a friendly face and a place to sit. A few months later, on a particularly hard day, Loretta mentioned a classmate whose roommate was secretly keeping a cat in their dorm. As an animal lover, Emma needed no convincing. That same night, Peter was in his dorm room when his roommate Greg texted that people might be stopping by. After a frantic cleaning session (and a quick shower), there was a knock at the door. Emma and Loretta walked in, introductions were made, and Peter’s cat, Leia, immediately stole the show. The group talked for hours—telling stories, doing bits, laughing nonstop, and completely losing track of time. By the end of the night, Peter couldn’t stop thinking about the girl who had just walked out the door. Over the next few weeks, the group spent nearly every day together—talking, laughing, playing games—and Emma and Peter were slowly building something neither of them expected. Their friend group grew, along with late nights, basketball games, KU traditions, and one particularly memorable (and very cold) swim in the Chi Omega fountain. Peter jumped in first. Emma did not. He tackled her in anyway. The laughter never really stopped after that. The couple shared their first kiss at the (famous) KU bar, The Hawk, and have been together ever since. Through ups and downs in health, school, jobs, moving in together, and building community, they've grown side by side without ever running out of things to talk about—or reasons to laugh. What started as a single road trip to Rocky Mountain National Park in Peter’s first van quickly turned into a love for traveling together, the outdoors, and seeing as many national parks as possible. That first trip led to many more, including a month-long adventure through 14 national parks and the West Coast, and they are always excited to cross another park off their list. In March 2024, Peter proposed at one of the couple's favorite places—Rocky Mountain National Park. The trip itself was full of unexpected twists: a newly purchased Subaru breaking down on the way there, an incredibly kind Subaru dealer in the middle of nowhere Kansas, extreme cold, wild weather, a twin air mattress instead of a queen, and even a tornado on the drive home. But despite it all, there was one more surprise in store for Emma. They hiked to Emerald Lake in freezing, windy conditions, where Peter finally asked, “You know how I always tell you I want to marry you?”—and then got down on one knee. Emma was completely surprised, a park ranger even hiked by to congratulate the two, and Peter immediately decided Emma had camped in the cold long enough. Since then, we’ve built a life filled with love, adventure, endless conversation, constant laughter, and our travelling cat, Leia—who really made this all happen :). No matter where we are or where the road takes us, we still talk and laugh the same way we did the night we first met. And we can’t wait to celebrate the love that brought us here, and all the adventures still ahead, with all of you!