Makayla and Ty’s story began at Oregon State University, though neither of them knew it at the time. It all started at a Phi Delta Theta house dance where a few close friends decided to play matchmaker and set them up (more on that later). What followed was a brief college fling that soon faded as they went their separate ways. Over the next six years, life kept bringing them back into each other’s orbit through mutual friends, Beaver games, and the occasional run-in, but the timing was never quite right. They were always just missing each other until the summer of 2023. Those same friends who introduced them years ago were getting married, and both Makayla and Ty happened to be in their wedding party. For Makayla, it started with a simple smile across the rehearsal dinner. For Ty, let's just say it wasn’t her dance moves that caught his attention. During dinner, Makayla’s dad jokingly asked, “Ty, you’re single, who would you go for?” Without hesitation, Ty replied, “Well Gary, your daughter is absolutely beautiful.” With Gary’s blessing and a little help from fate, their love story began that night. They didn’t let distance get in the way, with Ty booking a flight to Boise, Idaho the very next weekend. They spent one of the best weekends together, filled with laughter, and it felt as though they had been best friends forever. It was just so easy. Not long after, Makayla planned a weekend trip to Seattle. About a month later, Ty invited her to join him and his friends on a trip to Mexico. Makayla quickly said yes (after all, who doesn’t want to go on an already paid, all-inclusive vacation to Mexico?). That trip became a turning point in their relationship, as they officially became boyfriend and girlfriend and said “I love you” for the first time. One might have slipped out before the other, but that’s a story best left for them to tell. The next year and a half was filled with flights back and forth between Seattle and Boise, a few trips to Europe, new jobs for both Makayla and Ty, and finally a move in the summer of 2025 to Seattle, where they officially moved in together and no longer had a flight between them. They ended 2025 with Ty popping the question in Central Park, one of their favorite places to visit. Makayla and Ty are so excited to begin this next chapter as husband and wife and cannot wait to celebrate with all of their favorite people.