Please RSVP by May 27, thanks!

There were many years between when Reuben and I met and when we started dating. Years spent getting to know each other slowly, working together, and creating a solid foundation of friendship. We both worked at the same summer camp, and during the fifth summer, between late night cereal cabinet raids and walking back to our cabins under the stars together, we both noticed that friendship change. Two huckleberry-picking dates later, we were excitedly dating.

After over 1.5 years of off and on long-distance across states and continents, we both were in Walla Walla together again driving to visit old friends at the end of August and I found myself trying (and failing) not to ask Reuben about when he planned on buying a ring. Conversations had been had and rings looked at, but in my head, nothing had happened after that and I was getting impatient. Reuben deflected by inferring that the ring was being made and the process was taking a long time. Little did I know that he'd had it for weeks and was planning this weekend out with help from our friends. The next day was spent adventuring as we volunteered at the aid station of an endurance race, bought flowers at a farmers market, and swam in the Deschutes River. For a lazy summer afternoon, Reuben was feeling a lot of pressure to get to the proposal destination before sunset. My dear friend Carrie suggested we check out Todd Lake for a quick evening walk, and she, David, Hope, Nathan, Reuben, and I set out. We arrived right as the sun was dipping into the smoky layer on the horizon and a light rain was rippling circles into the surface of the Lake. It was magical. After taking some girls-only photos, Hope and Carrie were replaced by Reuben. Two phone cameras, one film camera, and a video camera suddenly faced us and I got my first wave of suspicion. Reuben got down on one knee, and frankly, I blacked out. The video shows him talking and us hugging but there's about 30 seconds that I don't remember because I was so full of joy and adrenaline. We cheered the occasion with martiniellis, wild flowers, and cheesecake. Being surrounded by friends and in the mountainous twilight glow, we were so excited to begin the next adventure.