Sean and Hanna were shot by OKCupid’s arrow. Due to Hanna’s aversion to being tethered to a phone, Sean showed great perseverance in wanting to meet up. After some initial back and forth, Hanna hadn’t responded for several days. She had a very busy week. Anxiously awaiting a reply, Sean wasn’t ready to give up just yet. He threw a ‘Hail Mary’ and offered a 10:00AM date on a Sunday. The morning of November 11, 2018 was a sunny one – a rarity in Seattle. On her way, Hanna quickly reviewed this suitor’s profile to remember who this guy was. Little did she know she was about to meet the love of her life. Across town, Sean had woken up early, carefully picked out his outfit, did his hair in an ‘updo,’ and was quite confident he and this gal were going to click. The two met at Café Besalu, a French bakery that Hanna had always wanted to try. Hanna and Sean connected right away. They went all out, sharing quiche, coffees, at least 4 pastries, and a macaroon for dessert. They have yet to find a better croissant in Seattle. Conversation was effortless. To continue the date, Hanna invited Sean to walk through the Ballard Farmer’s Market before her yoga class. She loved the way Sean laughed so easily. He earned the name ‘Good Smile Guy’ in her contacts. He was struck by her calm, confident presence, enamored by how beautiful she looked, and thought to himself, ‘she could be the one.’ Hanna asked for a second date and the two have either texted or called each other every day since.

Sean started thinking about how he might propose to Hanna after their second date. A year and a half later, Hanna thought a proposal sounded like a good idea. COVID ruined three of Sean’s amazing proposal plans, but Plan D ended up being perfect. They were on a mid-summer trip with her family in Packwood, a small town at the base of Mt. Rainier. Enlisting the eager help of Amaris, Hanna’s sister, Sean set out to surprise Hanna. Sean and Amaris devised a plan. They would go on an early hike and bring the ring along just in case there was a spot that felt right. Amaris told Hanna she'd be modeling some athletic clothes for a “photo shoot”. Hanna didn’t think anything of it. Little did she know this was all to make sure she would love her engagement photos. Sean used the code-phrase, 'I got bit on my butt last night!' to signal he had found a worthy spot for the proposal. Along the Naches Loop Trail, there were beautiful views everywhere, but nothing compared to the top, which boasted a full view of Mt. Rainier, glimmering lakes, and rolling mountains in all directions. They had the entire clearing to themselves, save for hundreds of mosquitos and 3 elderly ladies in the distance enjoying a mid-hike snack. While Amaris prompted Hanna to do some yoga poses, Sean snuck behind her, awkwardly waiting for his moment. When Hanna turned around, Sean held both her hands (very tightly) and got down on one knee. Hanna asked, “are you serious right now?,” then immediately started crying when she realized this was not a joke. Amaris leapt around, capturing their moment from all angles. Tears in his eyes, Sean jumbled his memorized speech, asking Hanna to marry him. She said ‘yes!’ cheered on by the distant snacking ladies. As the adrenaline wore off, they noticed their many mosquito bites! They felt so lucky to be in Mt. Rainier’s beauty during the proposal and engagement photos (Thank you Amaris!) and will be able to return to this breathtaking place for years to come.