We're Getting Married!

Jake and Ryann sat just two desks apart in 8th grade computer class—yep, you read that right, 8th grade. Ryann tried to get Jake’s attention a few times, but her shiny purple braces and matching glasses didn’t exactly leave him speechless. And Jake’s Justin Bieber haircut? Well, it wasn’t exactly the kind of thing Ryann was looking for at the time. Over the next eight years, their lives ran in parallel—same friend groups, different moments—until the summer of 2017, when Jake finally asked Ryann to grab coffee. Before that day, both of them had always thought the phrase "when you know, you know" sounded a little cheesy. But after that coffee date? As much as it makes them roll their eyes to say it, they both finally understood what it meant.

"What's one place you've always dreamed of visiting but never had the chance to?" We both answered with the same word—Alaska. That very night, we found ourselves booking tickets for the following fall. We chose a charming little Airbnb in Anchorage as our home base, where we'd begin a weeklong adventure. Each day, we drove down winding roads as we explored every which way, from Anchorage to Fairbanks. But nothing could compare to the moment we stood together at the foot of the Denali Mountains. On the final day of our trip, we hiked 3,500 feet up Mount Healy. When we reached the top, it felt as though we had stepped into a snowglobe. The snow-capped peaks stretched out endlessly, and more snowflakes continued to fall. We stood there, just the two of us, feeling like the only people on Earth. As Ryann took it all in, Jake dropped to one knee in the snow and asked her to marry him. Without hesitation, she answered. Her answer had always been yes—always, from the very first moment they met.

We’ll be exchanging our vows in a private ceremony nestled in the heart of Shenandoah, a place that means so much to both of us. It's where we’ve shared countless memories—hiking through the mountains as the fall leaves begin to turn, tossing a ball for our dog by the river, and cozying up by the fire under the stars. It feels like the perfect setting to say “I do,” and we can’t imagine starting this next chapter of our lives anywhere else.

While we’re keeping our ceremony private, we still want to share this special moment with all of you who mean so much to us. We can’t wait to celebrate together at the MOCA!