You're Invited
Our Story
How We Met
Well, folks, gather 'round for a tale as old as time... or, you know, as new as Instagram DMs.
It all started, as many modern romances do, with a little digital reconnaissance. Andrea's friend stumbled upon Colton's profile. But Andrea, with her discerning eye, quickly realized Colton was much more her speed than her friend's. So, like any self-respecting person in the 21st century, she hit that "follow" button.
Colton reciprocated the follow and slid into her DMs with a line so slick, it practically had its own theme music: "Do I know you? If not, I want to." (We know, we know, save your applause.) Andrea, clearly impressed by Colton's unparalleled wit, agreed to a date.
Now, here's where things get a little... memorable. Date day arrived, and Colton, punctuality practically being his middle name, was ready. Andrea? Not so much. An hour before their scheduled rendezvous, after a flurry of unanswered texts, Colton finally got through. Andrea's response? A breezy, "Oh, that's tonight? I'm about to go out with my friends. You can come meet us if you'd like."
Turns out, it was Andrea's birthday. A fact Colton was blissfully unaware of until he arrived at the bar and saw her festive "Birthday Girl" pin. Despite the initial miscommunication, Colton joined the birthday festivities, and they danced the night away. The actual "first date" happened the following weekend, and well, the rest, as they say, is history.
The Proposal
The Ascent to "Yes"
You know how some people get engaged at fancy restaurants, or maybe a picturesque beach at sunset? Yeah, that's not really our style. For us, true romance apparently involves sweat, dirt, 8-mile uphill treks and views!
Our engagement story begins on the infamous Paintbrush Cascade Canyon Loop in the Grand Tetons – a hike so stunning, it almost makes you forget your quads are screaming. After an all day up hill hike, we finally reached the glorious summit of Paintbrush Canyon. We were hot, we were sweaty, and Andrea was probably thinking about the nearest shower, but the views? Absolutely breathtaking.
As the sun began to dip, painting the sky in fiery reds and oranges over Holly Lake, Colton, despite his pounding heart (from both the elevation and the nerves), knew this was the moment. Andrea, bless her anti-social heart, had always made it clear she wanted absolutely no audience for this. And trust us, at the top of that canyon, surrounded by nothing but the vast wilderness, her wish was granted.
Colton, a nervous wreck but fueled by love (and maybe a little residual adrenaline from the climb), got down on one knee. What exactly was said in that moment of glorious exhaustion and natural beauty is a bit of a blur, but the answer was a resounding "Yes!" We spent our first night as an engaged couple under that spectacular stars, and the next day, we practically floated (or more accurately, stumbled) the remaining 10 miles down Cascade Canyon, giddy with excitement.
It was perfectly us: adventurous, a little bit messy, and utterly unforgettable.