Peter and Anya met each other in undergrad while they were both English majors at Colorado Christian University. After sharing many classes together and getting to know each other through group discussions and projects, Peter asked her on a date. A night at a coffee shop and bookstore in Boulder turned into many more days and nights taking walks, doing homework, going to symphonies, and traveling to meet family and friends.

Peter proposed in August 2024 during a sunset hike in Big Sky, and they planned to get married in May of 2025. During that time, Peter moved to Okinawa, Japan, as a Second Lieutenant in the Army, and Anya finished up school in Denver and moved to Montana to get to know Peter’s family until the wedding. Unfortunately, as many of you know, Peter was deployed to the Middle East in early April, and the wedding had to be postponed.

After 6 months full of many different joys and trials, they finally have a wedding date–January 3rd! They are looking forward to this long-awaited date where they will finally be reunited not only with each other, but also with their community of friends and family. What a wonderful celebration it will be!

After the wedding, Peter plans to take Anya back to Okinawa with him, where they will live for the next couple of years. They are looking forward to once again reading, walking, exercising and cooking together, and they also cannot wait to explore Okinawa’s unique landscape and cuisine! Be on the lookout for many pictures and videos of their sushi and bao bun-making journey, as well as all their adventures around the island. And if you’re looking to vacation in Japan, they would love to host you!