Welcome!

It was the spring of 2016, a season of new beginnings. Nick had just finished high school and Mariah was prepping for her senior year. When they first met, there was an instant connection, a spark neither of us could ignore. We had exchanged social media, and from then on, we talked every single day—hours slipping by as if the world had narrowed down to just us. Nick thought Mariah was the prettiest girl he had ever seen. What began as friendship quickly revealed itself to be something extraordinary. Every conversation, every shared laugh, deepened our bond. We couldn’t stay away from each other, and soon, we weren’t just spending time together—we were building a life together. From that moment on, we were inseparable, our hearts intertwined as naturally as the changing of the seasons.

Picture this: It was a starry and clear sky. The temperature was 19 degrees and one of the coldest night in November. They were walking by the lake in a park, and Nick—sweet, nervous Nick—was about to propose to Mariah. He was so anxious she might spot their loved ones and photographers hiding nearby that, in his panic, he pushed her into a bush. Yes, a bush. Romantic, right? When they finally made it to the proposal spot, it was breathtaking—twinkling lights everywhere, and the ground looked like it was dusted with star shaped confetti. Mariah was still brushing leaves off herself when she glanced over at the water, only to hear Nick groan dramatically about his knee. For a second, she thought he was injured, and her concern was real… until he awkwardly started lowering himself onto one knee. Out of his pocket came the box. She knew what was happening, and before he could say a single word, she shouted, “YES! Absolutely YES!” so loud it probably scared off the local wildlife. Nick just laughed and said, “Well, that was easy,” as he slid the ring onto her finger. It wasn’t perfect, but it was every bit of them—a little clumsy, a lot of laughter, and completely unforgettable.