Our story begins in 2009, as two high school freshmen sitting across from each other at the lunch table. We were friends and shared a few classes over the years, but it wasn’t until after high school that our friendship truly began to blossom. Over time, we became inseparable—best friends who could spend hours together, from early mornings to late nights, never running out of things to talk about or laugh over. On Halloween weekend in 2016, we snuck away from our friends at the bar and climbed up onto a nearby rooftop. As we sat there enjoying the quiet, Vince turned to me and said, “We’re going to get married one day.” At the time I laughed it off, not wanting to risk my favorite friendship. Fast forward to August 2020. Vince asked me to go hiking and camping with him at Ricketts Glen in Pennsylvania. It was there, surrounded by waterfalls and quiet forest trails, that he finally told me how he truly felt—that he wanted to be more than friends. By February, we were officially together. We celebrate our anniversary on 2/22 and the angel number 222 went on to become very important to us :)

Last August, Vince surprised me with a getaway to our special place—Ricketts Glen. I thought it would just be a few days in nature to grieve the loss of someone very special to us. We had recently lost Vince’s brother and best friend, Alex. When we arrived, I was stunned to see that our home for the next few nights was a cozy treehouse nestled in the trees, surrounded by lush greenery. That evening, Vince made us burgers, and we spent the night by the fire he built, listening to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone on audiobook—something that always brings us comfort. The next day, we set out on the three-mile loop trail. We took our time, stopping often to admire the waterfalls and listen to the calming sound of running water. By early afternoon, we found the perfect spot to sit and enjoy our sandwiches—a flat rock in front of one of the larger falls. It was peaceful, just the two of us soaking in the moment. Vince kept glancing into his backpack at his phone, and I assumed he was checking the map. The next thing I knew, Vince was asking me to spend the rest of my days with him. It would have been the easiest yes of my life, but we laugh that I never truly gave him an answer. I just ugly cried and hugged him. He proposed at exactly 2:22 on August 22nd, in the very spot where, four years earlier, he had told me he wanted to be more than friends. The first person to congratulate us was a man hiking alone who noticed me smiling at my ring. He told us we had made his day and wished us a lifetime of happiness. Back at the treehouse, once we had cell service again, we sat on the porch and called and texted our loved ones to share the exciting news. While I was on FaceTime with my mom, a hummingbird suddenly appeared just over Vince’s shoulder. I had never seen one that close before. I like to believe it was Alex, showing up to celebrate with us and be with his brother on such a meaningful day. It was the most beautiful day of my life so far—not just because of the proposal, but because someone I love put so much thought, love, and intention into creating a moment we’ll remember forever.