It all began with a simple question: “Mountains or beaches?” Andrew answered mountains, and not long after, suggested grabbing a coffee. On January 1, 2023, we met for our very first date at the Starbucks in East Peoria, IL. We connected instantly—bonding over hikes, trying new restaurants, coffee dates, and cozy movie nights. But life had other plans. Andrew was preparing to move to North Carolina, and Mattie wasn’t ready to leave her hometown, so our story paused before it truly began. Months later, while sitting in an airport after a girls’ trip, Mattie found herself wondering, What if this is our love story? What if the distance could work? Within minutes, she texted Andrew. By the end of the week, she had booked a flight to Raleigh, North Carolina. The next year was filled with flights back and forth, exploring new places, and making the most of every moment together—from Michigan to the Outer Banks to Virginia. And then, life brought Andrew back home to central Illinois, where we’ve been grateful to build our life close to family and friends. In August of 2025, we took a week long trip to Wyoming to visit Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park. We’d been planning this trip since December 2024. And at sunset, surrounded by mountains we both love, Andrew popped the question. 🤍