On July 5th, 2022, Lara was invited on a friend’s wake-surfing boat. When she arrived at the dock around 10AM, she recognized the boat pulling up. She was surprised to see that instead of her friend at the helm, the captain was tan, mustached, and wildly handsome. Ryan had recently purchased a house. His next-door neighbor, who happened to be Lara’s friend, had the same kind of boat as him. He was invited along not for his great personality, but to help drive. Ryan, for his part, was relieved to see a beautiful girl join the group, rather than spending the day with only married neighbors, their young kid, and another couple. Over a morning of sun and surfing, he showed off his skills behind the boat, and made sure to find his way to the bow to talk with Lara and get to know her. As the day wrapped up and the group cleaned the boat, Lara jumped into a political conversation and confidently declared, “taxation is theft.” Ryan was immediately intrigued, both because he agreed and because of how confidently she said it.

Ryan asked for her phone number on the ride home, saying that he’d love to have Lara out on his boat. He neglected to mention that his boat had a major mechanical failure the day before. As a boat owner, he was psychologically incapable of asking for her number in any other way.
 Days went by, maybe even a couple weeks, and Lara hadn’t heard from Ryan about his promised boat day. So she took matters into her own hands, got his number from her friend, and asked him out for drinks. Ryan gladly accepted and suggested a cocktail bar downtown. They spent the evening talking, laughing, and sharing their first kiss before he dropped her off just in time for a few hours of sleep before her flight to Spain. Since then, Lara and Ryan have built a beautiful life together in the hill country of West Austin. They share their home with three cats, an ever-changing number of chickens, and an elderly German shepherd. They rarely miss a chance to be on the lake together, and over time, their friend groups have become one. They’ve traveled extensively together, and hosting their wedding near one of their first destinations is a nod to their shared love of exploring new places and cultures. (You’re welcome that we didn’t make you fly to Thailand.) After a few years of dating, and a few months of living together seamlessly, Ryan knew it was time to pop the question. He designed a ring appropriate for her unique character and beauty, planned a weekend at a boutique hotel, and crafted an elaborate story to set the stage. Everything went according to plan, and thankfully, she said “yes”!
 This is just the start of our story. We’re thrilled to share this weekend and this next chapter with you!