Join our ceremony virtually!

If you can't make the ceremony, we completely understand. Our unique situation presents an unfortunate reality that not everyone can physically be with us. If you'd like to join us through zoom, please decline the RSVP and use this link and sign on at 3pm Feb. 13th: https://berkeley.zoom.us/j/91800154703

Our story starts nearly 2 decades ago. We essentially grew up together and went to school at Edwards AFB - since at least 4th grade. By the time we entered high school we became best friends and by junior year we were nearly attached at the hip. We still remember those awkward years, before dating, when we weren't sure how the other person felt but didn't dare risk exposing our true feelings (and risk losing the friendship we had). We both remember going through high school and dating other people, but deep down there was something in our guts that told us we were meant to be together. It sounds cliche, but we just knew we were going to grow old together. Finally, after spending nearly every waking second together (and if we weren't together we were texting 24/7 - Pierce would have to leave his phone in the bathroom at night! haha) we started dating our senior year.

At the end of senior year we continued onto college. Pierce went to California Baptist University and Brittany went to school 1-2 hours away at CSU Long Beach. We drove back and forth nearly every weekend to spend time with each other. We're not going to lie, a long distance relationship was tough (and the LA traffic sucked)! We had a lot of ups and downs, but looking back, we don't regret going to different schools. In the long run it gave us the opportunity to grow as individuals. Fast forward 5 years, we both graduated but Brittany wanted to pursue her PhD. So we moved to the bay area, shared our first apartment, and our first kitty - Archibald (and now we have another kitty named Dwight). For the next couple years we learned, or rather struggled, to be "adults" together. But lets be honest, we are still and will forever be children. Throughout our journey we learned to love each other unconditionally, and to accept each other's flaws and imperfections. Now that we have both finished school we are ready to get married and see what else life has in store!

Early before the proposal, we had a special ring made from scratch that combined diamonds from both our mother’s rings. Brittany knew I had the ring for months but had never seen it. Around the time of our 9-year anniversary, we went camping with our close friends and I decided this trip would be it. I was tired of waiting. I kept the ring in my pocket the entire drive from Berkeley to Mammoth and throughout the scheduled hike, somehow without Brittany knowing even the slightest bit what I was up to. We hiked past the beautiful Mammoth lakes and ended at ‘Chickenfoot lake’. We went off-roading a bit from the trail and reached a point above the valley and overlooking the lake. Even though we were hiking through swarms of mosquitoes, I pressed forward looking for my perfect “spot” and was skipping rock to rock looking for that screensaver view. I finally found it and ushered Brittany into position (Brittany’s note: haha! It was definitely not an ‘ushering moment’ – more like pierce pointed randomly into the sky and said “Hey come here, look at that!” and I stood there looking into the mountains trying to figure out what was so cool). To her surprise, I dropped down on one knee and asked the question. Our friends Chris and Dani brought champagne (which was somehow also hidden from Brittany the entire trip without her knowing) and popped the bottle while I popped the question! On our hike down we drank beers and laughed at the fact I kept what was most likely my first secret.