Our Story
How We Met
Our love story began long before we even realized it. As family friends since childhood, we grew up just two houses apart in Grand Forks. Our mothers have been best friends for over twenty years, so we've always been a part of each other's lives. But it wasn’t until the Fourth of July in 2021, when Jacob’s dad invited the Richards family to their lake cabin, that sparks truly flew. That weekend, Jacob took Alex to see the fireworks, and from that moment, something shifted. Two months later, Jacob moved to Colorado and invited Alex to join him for the drive and help him settle in. Once there, over a lovely dinner, he asked her to be his girlfriend. After two years of long-distance while Alex finished her degree, she made the big move to Colorado to start their next chapter together. And now, here we are, excited to celebrate the beginning of our forever!
The Proposal
In early August 2024, I knew I was ready to ask Alex the most important question of my life. After months of planning, I had everything set up perfectly, with a little help from my mom Joan, my sister Ashley, and my brother-in-law Riley. We planned a family trip to Colorado, centered around a Christian music concert at Red Rocks. To Alex, it seemed like just another fun weekend with the family. But I had something much more special in mind.
On Friday, August 9th, we set out on a hike to Lake Isabelle in the Colorado mountains. The crisp morning air and beautiful scenery were the perfect backdrop for what I had planned. Riley was snapping photos throughout the hike, pretending it was his new "hobby," but really, he was practicing to capture the big moment. After a two-hour trek, we arrived at Lake Isabelle, surrounded by stunning mountain views. I wanted a quiet, secluded spot, so I led the group to an area with a perfect view of the lake. When it was our turn for a “couple’s photo,” I turned to Alex, dropped to one knee, and asked her to spend the rest of her life with me. The look of surprise and joy on her face was unforgettable. And when she said yes, it was the happiest moment of my life. It was truly the perfect beginning to our forever.