Jonathan and Emily met online after years of searching, unsuccessfully, for “the right person”. But the first time we talked to each other we both knew that something was different. We had our first date at a cozy Persian restaurant called Persepolis - a place we now revisit often. We felt an immediate connection, and were surprised at how much we had in common. Since we both enjoyed hiking, we hiked Lullwater Park for our 2nd date where our conversation went so well and ran so deep that Jonathan extended the hike until it started growing dark, and it was at the end of that hike at sunset that we shared our first kiss. We learned that our very different experiences had led us both to the same place in terms of who we were and what we wanted in life, and our past difficulties had only made us stronger and more determined to keep searching with purpose for what we wanted. Our similarities were so striking and unlike anything we had ever found before that Emily even worried at times that it might not be real… even our few differences still complimented each other. We had similar beliefs, life goals, core values, favorite foods, love of the outdoors, work ethic, entrepreneurial spirit, aesthetic tastes, eating habits, exercise habits, and most importantly - an undeniable emotional and spiritual connection. We often joke that despite being "high-functioning introverts", our wavelengths match so closely that we don’t ever get tired of each other. So many things seem to have drawn us together like two magnets. All of these elements combined with the love, support, and encouragement of our families have set the foundation of a beautiful relationship that keeps nurturing us to grow into the people we believe we were always meant to be. We believe that God was making each other ready for the other through time, trials, and experience, and we are so happy that we finally found one another and get to share and celebrate this love with our family and friends!

Jonathan proposed to Emily on the beaches of Cabo San Lucas under a private cabana while on a Peterson family Christmas vacation. It was the perfect private moment that we will cherish forever. Jonathan had designed a ring for Emily but because of the intricacies involved it turned out the jeweler was not able to complete the ring in time for the Christmas trip. Jonathan told them that he needed “something to propose with" and picked the closest ring design available, a diamond with a halo, that could hold the same center stone. Emily loved the ring, not knowing that it was a stand-in. After the trip Jonathan came home one night and presented Emily with a small box. "What is this??" she asked. "This is your ring!" he said, smiling proudly. "But I already have a ring!" She exclaimed. "Open it". There in the box was the ring that he had designed for her. He had designed it so "it sparkles just like her, no matter which way she looks at it", he said. Then told her to “take that one off because he had to return it to the jeweler!"