We met through a mutual friend, Mary Johnson. Matthew invited Mary to a UFC watch party and I tagged along, thinking I was just signing up to hang out with some new people. As soon as we started talking, we instantly clicked. We had a few more casual hangouts, arranged by Mary, then I decided it was time to take charge! I demanded that Matthew take me on a date - specifically on a Wednesday evening in Boulder at the place of my choosing. As soon as that first date was underway, we knew there was something special about our connection and began seeing each other regularly. We enjoyed over five years of life together with our dog, Denver.

After five years of trips within Colorado and the US, spending lots of time with our dog, Denver, and enduring significant life changes, Matthew planned an epic proposal. However, I did not make this easy. Secretly, Matthew had planned out a weekend for our friends and family to gather and celebrate our love. My best friends had coordinated a "birthday dinner" in which we would get our nails done. Matthew told me he was hunting that weekend - and even put the event on their shared calendar months in advance to avoid all suspicion. However, the plan wasn't done yet. Since my Master's thesis was due the same evening, I tried every trick in the book to get out of the dinner plan. Yet, in true procrastinator fashion, I waited until the last minute to submit my paper and get to the dinner! Obviously Matthew was extremely stressed out, while not showing me his fears. When I arrived home from dinner, I noticed Matthew's car in the driveway. Expecting to walk into Matthew's cancelled hunting plans, I was greeted to a pathway full of candles and roses, along with the dreamiest twinkle light backyard. After, what felt like 5 hours, of me standing in doorway in utter shock, Matthew finally coaxed me outside to pop the question. The backyard was filled with plants, balloons, candles, and roses - something I could never even dream of. In that moment I was certain of two things - Matthew was the only person that knew me better than I knew myself, and I didn't like surprises. However, the surprises didn't stop there. After multiple failed calls to my mom and a sketchy call to my sister, our parents surprised us by entering through the front door. We shared a champagne toast and many laughs, but it still wasn't the end. Don't worry, though, I attempted to guess every possible outcome. When we pulled up to the Front Porch Bar in Denver, I was expecting to see about 5 friends. Yet, the bar was packed with almost everyone we've shared our relationship with over the years. The biggest surprise guests in the crowd were my sister and my best friend who lives out of state. While Matthew was simply relieved the proposal was a successful, it was the most magical night of my life, all thanks to the man I chose to spend the rest of my life with.