A Day To Remember

We first crossed paths during our freshman year at St. Edward's University. We were introduced through some mutual friends but didn't really chat much at the time. We would see each other occasionally at social events and exchanged friendly hellos or nods whenever we did. One weekend, I was heading off for a church retreat, and I needed someone to watch my fish while I was away. I decided to ask him, and he graciously agreed! However, he accidentally misread my dorm room number and ended up not being able to take care of my little buddy after all. Luckily, my fish was just fine when I got back, and he felt really sorry for the mix-up. Even though he didn't get to fish-sit again, we started to build a friendship that grew stronger over time. After a month of connecting and having great conversations, Preston took a leap and asked me to be his girlfriend on April 5, 2022. It turned out to be the best decision!

It’s no secret to our families that Preston and I had been chatting about marriage, especially as we approached our three-year anniversary of dating. By the time our second anniversary rolled around, we’d already looked at rings, which showed we were both excited about taking that next step together. I had mentioned wanting to wait until I graduated from college, which was coming up fast, so we knew the proposal would eventually happen. I had a strong feeling I’d get engaged sometime over the summer since Preston and I aren’t great at keeping secrets from each other. When Preston's family trip to Alaska was planned for early June, I thought, “This could be it!” However, that thought left when I remembered I had picked out the ring just three months prior, and it would probably take a bit longer to be ready. On June 3, in Alaska, we planned to take some fun photos in front of the stunning mountains. We got all dressed up and made our way to Kincaid Park, but I quickly grew frustrated with the long hike and the chilly weather, and I even considered turning back. Finally, we arrived at the spot his aunts had set up for the proposal, and when Preston got down on one knee, it completely took me by surprise! Despite my earlier frustration, I wouldn’t change that beautiful moment for anything. It was perfect!