It all started with a sunflower, a close friend (and now, our officiant!), and the Farmer's Market. On Thursdays in the summer, I work at the Tahoe City Farmer's Market with my friend Tracy. Wes happens to manage the park where the market is held. At the end of one of the Farmer's Markets in June, walking back to the car with Tracy and a single prized sunflower given to me by the vendor I work for, we ran into Wes. Tracy introduced us, and as Wes remembers it, seeing me with a big smile and that special sunflower, he quickly realized he wanted to know me more.

After a perfect first date of hiking Rifle Peak, wildflower spotting, and jumping in the lake, the rest followed just as easy as breathing. We never questioned how the other felt because it was obvious, and we started to include each other in our futures. We simply couldn’t imagine our lives without one another. Ten months later, on a road trip adventure down Highway 365, Wes proposed on a sunset hike in Joshua Tree. It was the easiest question I have ever answered. His brother and sister-in-law were there with us that night to celebrate, and Wes surprised me with a family gathering at my parent’s house in Laguna Beach the next night. And now, we are counting the days until we can celebrate with all of you!