Wesley and I first met four and a half years ago, in Moscow, Idaho, a town eight hours from my hometown. I’d decided to go to college there, and Wesley had grown up in Moscow. I was 20, and he was 18. It all began with a broken phone. My best friend, Jade, came with me to the Verizon store because I needed to use her phone to call my Nana, who managed my phone plan. Walking in, I wasn’t expecting anything extraordinary, just hoping to fix my tech disaster. But then, our eyes met. Wesley, stood up so quickly he nearly knocked over his chair. I felt a jolt of something I couldn't quite place and stumbled through asking for a new phone. We were both wearing masks—thank you, COVID—but even then, his eyes stood out, warm and kind, making me feel at ease. There was a sense of trust, even in that awkward moment. Wesley guided me through the process of picking a phone, and I was completely captivated, barely able to concentrate as he spoke. The phone call to my Nana didn’t go smoothly. She struggled with the link Wesley kept sending. Meanwhile, I was barely helping because I was too busy sneaking glances and making small talk with Wesley. In the end, Nana decided to visit her local Verizon store, and I was told to return later. That’s when Wesley, rattled off his entire work schedule, hoping I’d come back while he was there. I couldn’t stop smiling, and Jade couldn’t stop giggling at our flirty exchange. As we left, I promised Jade I’d ask for "the Verizon guy’s number" when I returned. I rushed home to share the encounter with my roommates, buzzing with excitement. They asked what his name was, and I realized I didn’t even know yet. Cue a series of dramatic rehearsals, my friends coaching me on how to casually ask for his number. I knew he probably couldn't ask for mine, given he worked at a phone store, so the pressure was on. On the day of my return, I dressed in my best outfit and took extra time on my makeup. As I marched into the store, there he was, the “Verizon guy,” looking equally thrilled to see me. The air was filled with nervous energy as he set up my new phone. We kept talking, and at one point, his manager had to step in because Wesley was too distracted to finish the transaction. Finally, we exchanged names, and when he told me his was Wesley, I was stunned. It was one of my favorite names. When everything was ready, I took a deep breath and asked if he had some paper. He handed me an absurdly large piece of printer paper. “Do you have a girlfriend?” I asked, trying desperately to sound casual. His answer, a simple “No,” came with a wide grin. “Sweet,” I replied, scribbling my name and number in giant letters. It was not subtle, but I was too thrilled to care. Moments after I left the store, my new phone buzzed. It was Wesley. He asked me out for the next day, and I was so excited!

Our first date was an adventure that spanned 13 hours. We started at Mikey’s Gyros, talking nonstop, then went bowling, where Wesley narrowly beat me—though I still claim victory to this day. We ended up at a house he was house-sitting, where we ate homemade mac and cheese, drank way too much chocolate milk, and watched my favorite movie, Frequency. As we cuddled on the couch, we shared our first kiss, laughter spilling over as our chocolate-milk-filled stomachs growled in sync. Our shared humor clicked immediately. When the movie ended, snow had begun to fall, the first of the year. We ran outside, giddy, dancing in the snowflakes before deciding to go drifting in parking lots. We were exhilarated, breathless from laughing. We returned to the house, played catch indoors, nearly knocking over a vase, and watched another movie. By 1 a.m., tired but joyful, Wesley drove me home. We chatted about future plans, already planning our next date. It felt like friendship and magic from the very start, we’ve been inseparable ever since.

We both wanted to say "I love you" early on, but we were nervous it might be too soon. Secretly, we each googled, “How long should you wait to say ‘I love you?’” The internet advised three months, so I decided to wait. But then, I was at a Chinese restaurant and opened a fortune cookie that read, “Tell those you love that you do.” It felt like the universe was giving me a sign. I decided not to listen to the “rules” of the internet and follow my heart instead. I saved the fortune, put it in a box, and took Wesley to a beautiful overlook with windmills. With my heart racing, I handed him the box and finally said, “I love you.” Wesley lit up, immediately saying “I love you” back, and laughed as he admitted he had been planning to say it that night at midnight. I had only beaten him to it by a couple of hours.

Wesley proposed at the Boise Hot Air Balloon Festival, and it couldn’t have been more perfect. He thought of everything I love—picnics, chocolate croissants, fresh raspberries, and of course, the magical sight of hot air balloons. But what really made it special was how he asked. He used a custom fortune cookie that said, “Will you marry me?”

Our wedding day began with excitement and a sense of anticipation. Wesley ordered breakfast for us at the place where we were staying, and we started the morning by getting ready. I had my hair and makeup done, and Wesley surprised me with a bouquet he had designed himself. Then, it was time for Wesley to put on his suit and head outside to wait for me for our first look. As I walked out in my dress, we both couldn’t hold back our tears. The moment we saw each other was so emotional, and we were overwhelmed with joy. After a short walk, a kind woman we passed took some Polaroid pictures of us, capturing our first wedding photos—a beautiful, unexpected gift. From there, our adventure continued as our car took us to the airport, where a helicopter was waiting for us. We checked in and met our officiant, photographer, and pilot. After watching a safety video, we climbed aboard, and the helicopter took off. The views from above were absolutely breathtaking—truly one of the most beautiful sights I've ever seen. It was a bit windy, and we had some fun turbulence, but that only added to the excitement. We flew further up the canyon and found a perfect little grassy meadow on the mountainside. To our surprise, they named it Carpenter's Null after us. No one had ever landed there before! Once on the ground, our officiant, Phillipa, guided us through the ceremony. It was so emotional, filled with love, laughter, and beauty. Remarkably, there was barely any wind in the spot we landed. We shared our first kiss as husband and wife, and then we signed our marriage license on the hood of the helicopter. Afterward, we explored the area, and Scott captured stunning photos of us, making the moment even more special. Next, we took off again to our second location. The wind was much stronger there, so the helicopter stayed running for safety while we made our way to the edge of a cliff. The view was incredible, and we took more photos in the wind, feeling so alive in that moment. When our helicopter ride ended, we returned to the airport, said our goodbyes, and headed to Queenstown Gardens. We found a quiet bench in the middle of the gardens, surrounded by nature and peace, and there, we read the letters our family and friends wrote us. We cried, laughed, and felt so connected to them, despite the distance. Their love and support meant the world to us. Afterward, we enjoyed a romantic dinner at Botswana Butchery, a fantastic steakhouse. We were seated in a cozy room by the fireplace, and our server was amazing. The food was exceptional, with Roast Lumina Lamb Sirloin and carrots cooked in Wagyu beef fat! Later, we ventured to some local bars, and to our surprise, people in restaurants stood up and cheered for us as we passed. At one bar, we were greeted with applause, and we met two lovely girls who made our night even more memorable. They even convinced the singer to play a song for us, and we shared our first dance as husband and wife. We continued to explore the town, popping into more bars, dancing, kissing, and soaking up the love. Every person we met congratulated us, offering high-fives, hugs, and smiles. It felt like we were movie stars, and we made so many wonderful new friends along the way. Our day ended perfectly, filled with laughter, joy, and vibrant memories.