Evan and I met almost 7 beautiful years ago (as of 2025) in Eagle, ID when I was serving at a breakfast restaurant called Rembrandts. Don’t worry though, he never flirted with me while I was working (even though he wanted to). The stars seemingly aligned one October night when I was struggling through coursework at the Flying M. See, I had never really gone to that coffee shop, however it was the only one that was opened late and that’s how I found myself there.

The funny thing is this was Evan’s usual haunt, he was there all the time and had never seen me there before so when he noticed a familiar looking girl sitting at the counter with a bunch of other 20 something women he knew he had to take the chance to say hi. His opening line? “Do you work at Rembrandts?” My first reaction was “Uh… yeah” thinking for some reason he was about to complain to me about prices or quality of food (I dunno). However he then went on to ask me on a date that I agreed to that would take place a couple days from then. That date ended up lasting till 4 am (on a work night I might add) and the rest was history. 

The Engagement

Evan asked me to marry him on June 22, 2024 at a park by our house in Arizona the day we got back from Idaho after my Nana’s funeral. I was caught off guard in several ways. Firstly, we had always been open about our future however with all the changes taking place (moving back to Idaho, starting a new career, etc) we agreed it wasn’t going to happen anytime soon and I was totally ok with that.

Flash forward to us getting home mid morning after an early flight and a night of inconsistent sleep. He had been planting seeds all morning about getting Dutch Bros and going for a walk. I was trying to steer him towards just going to sleep because I was dead on my feet but he wouldn’t be persuaded and I’ll never say no to caffeine. What should have tipped me off is his impromptu outfit change into a linen button up shirt I had bought him a month prior that he had not worn yet. What did I do? Rocked my airport fit that featured Birkenstock Clogs WITH SOCKS. But I digress. Being sleep deprived definitely played a huge part in him successfully surprising me because now that I look back he was being kind of weird and indecisive on where he wanted to walk.

Once we finally chose a direction I was more focused on not being in the way of other walkers and potential bikers and ended up just straight up walking away from him the first time he got down on his knee. He ended up calling to me and all I did was step off into the grass because I thought I was in someone's way. Eventually I finally noticed he was down on his knee all I could say was “What are you doing?!?!” and repeat that about 35 times and then ask if he was joking. I blacked out a bit, I’m not gonna lie. Once it really sunk in I finally let him put the ring on and I hugged and kissed him.

Then out of the corner of my eye I see what I think is a well meaning stranger running towards us with a camera. Immediately I was like oh Jesus a stranger I need to talk to while my hands are shaking and my brain has melted. But no! It was my best friend, Cole, who was actually on our flight that morning incognito wearing a literal wig so she could be here to try and catch some candid shots. I had expressed that having candid shots of that moment would be special and Evan really delivered and I appreciate that he included Cole in that moment because it was way better than having to talk to a stranger while my brain was playing catch up with reality. It was such a special day that was the perfect combination of shocking, hilarious, and beautiful.