Vaughn and Rachel met on move-in day of their freshman year at Grand Canyon University in 2021—at the campus bowling alley (which, sadly, no longer exists). They were introduced by one of Rachel’s high school classmates, who just so happened to be Vaughn’s roommate. What started as casual group hangouts quickly became something more. After nights out with friends would “end,” Rachel often stayed behind—living in the same building made it easy, even with a curfew to work around. Somewhere between late-night conversations, shared music, and competitive trivia games, they realized how much they had in common. The turning point came when a mutual friend let it slip to Vaughn that Rachel thought he was cute. Luckily for him, the feeling was mutual. They started dating in November 2021 and have been together ever since. Most of their relationship began at GCU, but it didn’t stay there for long. Together, they’ve traveled to Mexico, Utah, Chicago, California, Florida, St. Louis, a Caribbean cruise, and, of course, Hawaii. Whether they’re skiing and snowboarding, going to concerts, hiking, playing pickleball, dive-bar hopping, or just staying in to watch movies and play the daily games, they’ve built a relationship rooted in fun, adventure, and genuinely enjoying each other’s company. At the center of it all is their shared Christian faith, which has guided their relationship from the very beginning. Through every season, their faith and values have been a steady foundation—shaping how they support one another, grow together, and look toward the future.

After months of meticulous planning, Vaughn proposed to Rachel on February 15, 2026, at Cave Creek Regional Park. What Rachel didn’t know was that Vaughn had taken a red-eye flight on Valentine’s Day, arriving early that morning and coordinating with friends and family to pull off the surprise—from airport pickup, to a place to get ready, to convincing Rachel to show up to a “photoshoot” her friends were supposedly having. When Rachel arrived at the pinned location, she was instead greeted by Vaughn—who she wasn’t supposed to see for a few more days until her trip to Hawaii. She instantly knew what was happening and, in complete shock, kept repeating, “this is crazy” and “this is insane” with a nervous smile (roughly 70 times). Vaughn got down on one knee, and of course, Rachel said yes.