We're so excited to celebrate with you!

I had found this really cute girl on Hinge, and was pretty pumped because she actually replied to my messages! Her photos had some pretty impressive dance shots so I was impressed, and a little intimidated. Since we lived on opposite sides of the city, I thought I'd be a reasonable gentleman and find a place halfway to meet for a drink on a weeknight. After a quick search on Yelp, I found a cozy neighborhood bar with great ratings. She liked the thought, and we had a date! Just as I was pulling up to park and meet her, I got a text from Sutton that read "Hideous. Change location?" Now I thought I was in for a real treat spending my night with a girl so high maintenance she couldn't handle a chill bar...

I was settling back in to adult life in Denver after returning from my MSc adventures in London. I was reluctant to join the online dating scene, but thankfully Kelyn convinced me that it was a great excuse to see the city and meet new people. Ben met all of the "must-haves" in order to go on a date: college degree, responded in complete sentences, and a balance of goofy, fun, and good looking pictures. He responsibly took the initiative to set-up the date on May, 4 to meet at the Englenook. Sounds cute, right? I was nervous and excited! I pulled up to see enough motorcycles to assemble a biker gang in the parking lot, too many neon beer signs in the window to make any place "cute," and my gut was telling me I was entering a Criminal Minds episode and I would be victim #4. I thought, "Wait, this guy went to Northwestern, has a big kid job, skis, this can't be right?!" So I decided to save myself and give him the benefit of the doubt. I nervously texted, "Hey, so can we change location?" Well...this is where nerves and autocorrect steps in changing the message to, "Hideous. Change location." I wait for a reply realizing that my edginess has come out unintentionally and I have ruined all hopes of meeting what I thought to be (and have been proven correct) a great guy. I, very carefully, wrote that I would be at the brewery (a safe, familiar place) across the street and hoped to see him there. I sat at a table somewhat thinking I would be drinking alone to see this handsome man walk in and immediately say, "Good call on changing the location." A wave of relief. The conversation carried itself so comfortably. We laughed, we shared stories, we clarified our comparable political views, and had a great time. The evening ended with a kiss and stomach full of butterflies. I couldn't wait for date #2!

After we recovered and enjoyed our first date, we couldn't help spending as much time together as we could! After about the 3rd date, we both were falling for each other, but wasn't sure how the other person felt. After dinner and a movie, Ben was walking Sutton to her car and decided to ask "So, how are you feeling about this?" Sutton answered "Pretty good....just going with the flow." Once again, Ben was confused. He thought she was really into it! Sutton was caught off guard with such a direct question and of course wanted to play it cool. A slight communication blip... Over the next few months Sutton clarified that was she was, in fact, into Ben. They got to know each other's friends. They spent time with each other's family. They said "I Love You." They supported each other through major job changes. They moved into together. They explored wonderful Colorado together. They became devoted to Sweet Cow. They became cat parents together (hi Elliot!). They traveled together. They played games together. They knew they had found their person.

Sutton was in Montreal, putting on her first conference for the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science (IADMS). Ben decided to fly up to join her for the last day of the conference to celebrate, then stay a few days in Montreal before heading to Portland, Maine to visit their good friends Flo and Nate. Sutton knew the proposal was coming sometime in these few months since her and Ben had designed the engagement ring together. She just didn't know when...and was eagerly awaiting! Ben wasn't sure of his plan, but on the flight to Montreal he read through a guidebook his parents had given them for the trip, marked spots in the city that "could be good proposal areas," and wrote out what he would like to say when asking Sutton to marry him. On a beautiful fall Tuesday, October 29th, Ben and Sutton decided it would be a "nature day" in Montreal exploring the Botanic Gardens. Ben had the ring box in the pocket of his jacket all morning (sneaky!) as they got coffee and breakfast, rode the train, and started exploring the gardens. He wasn't sure going in that he would ask that day, but the trees were turning colors, the sun was out, and it felt right. First, Ben and Sutton walked through the Chinese Garden, and Ben kept pausing to admire one of the small bridges they would cross. Sutton thought Ben was just lost in the moment and weirdly into small bridges, but really he was so nervous and was trying to find the right time to ask without a bunch of people around. They made their way to the First Nations garden. Sitting under a pogoda, Ben was just working up the courage to ask when Sutton announced she had to go to the bathroom! As she made her way back from the restrooms, Ben told himself to "get your sh*t" together!" As Sutton sat back down and before he could lose the moment, Ben got down on one knee and asked Sutton if she'd spend the rest of her life with him. Filled with excitement and joy, of course she said, "Yes!"