A lot of people might not know but we actually had our first date in July 2014, almost exactly 11 years before our wedding day. After being introduced "virtually" by our mutual friend Jeff Koch, Riley traveled to Missouri, where Tara was living at the time, for a first date that lasted almost a whole week. Who has a week long first date, 3 years before they start officially dating?! Us! We went to a drive in movie, played mini golf, went swimming in a random lake, ate hibachi and enjoyed our time together - so much so that Tara told her mom afterwards that she could see herself with Riley but couldn't figure out how it would work living so far apart. For the next 3 years, we were ships passing in the night - trying at times to make it work but we were young and life made love look hard. That all changed on April 20, 2017 when we decided to throw caution to the wind and start dating exclusively. It's tough to put the next 8 years of life and love into a paragraph but we'd simply say that since then, we've shared the highest of highs and as life goes, a few lows along the way too. We've laughed until our stomach hurt and cried together when life challenged us. We traveled, bought a house, bought a boat, raised a dog and chose each other through the good and bad times alike. We've grown as individuals and as a couple - building a home, a life and a family together that neither of us could imagine ourselves without. On July 28, 2025 - we exchanged vows (eerily similar themed vows I might add - that's 8 years together for you) surrounded by our immediate families in Port Townsend, WA. It was the most perfect day that either of us could imagine! Becoming husband and wife and making official the commitment to continue to choose each other and this life we are building together every day. A promise for a life together intentionally filled with love, joy, support and endless adventure until death do us part! <3