It all began on August 10, 2024, with a simple swipe and a not-so-simple opening line. Ethan messaged Ashley on Hinge with, “I’m a broken man,” in response to her being a chiropractor. Her reply? “We’re all a little broken.” And just like that, something clicked.

Our first date was on August 30th at CJ Barrymore’s, where we played mini golf—Ashley won the first round, and we tied the second. At the top of the Ferris wheel, we shared our very first kiss, already sensing something special was starting. The next day, we met up again for the Arts, Beats & Eats festival in Royal Oak—after Ethan made homemade waffles, of course. And on the third day, we introduced our fur babies: Jacob, Luna, and Lily. Once we saw our dogs getting along, we knew we never wanted to be apart again.

Ashley knew Ethan was the one when she saw how naturally their little family came together. A moment that sealed it? Luna wriggled out of her harness in the front yard—and while Ashley panicked, Ethan calmly scooped her up. That’s when she knew: this was the man she’d build a life with.
Ethan says he knew Ashley was the one after a two-week stretch of spending every day together. He jokingly “kicked her out” to get some space—only to immediately regret it and ask her to come back. From that moment on, we’ve never spent a night apart.

Skiing has become one of our favorite shared adventures. Ashley has been skiing since she was three, while Ethan picked it up later—but quickly made up for it with experience in the mountains out west. For Ashley’s birthday, Ethan planned a trip to Breckenridge and helped her conquer the big slopes for the first time. For our six-month anniversary, we traveled to Lake Tahoe and skied at Heavenly and Sugar Bowl, which quickly became our favorite destination. That trip was especially meaningful—exactly 30 years earlier, Ashley’s mom and late father had taken their last trip together to that same place.

Just before Tahoe, Ethan went on a guys’ trip to Snowmass—where Ashley’s dad had passed away. Without telling her, he searched the mountain until he found her father’s memorial plaque. He knelt before it and asked for his blessing to marry her. It was the most heartfelt and meaningful gesture anyone had ever done for Ashley.

On May 17, 2025, Ethan pulled off the impossible: surprising Ashley with a proposal. Knowing she’s Type A and not easily fooled, he told her they were meeting friends for brunch at a fancy waterfront restaurant. Begrudgingly (and suspiciously), she got up early and got dolled up. They were the first to arrive, and the weather was colder and windier than expected. Ethan tried to get her to sit outside—but within seconds, she moved them inside.

Still determined, Ethan suggested they take a walk by the water while they waited. As they stood near the shoreline, he pointed to the Detroit skyline to get Ashley to turn around. When she turned back to him, he was down on one knee. They both looked at each other and started giggling before Ethan blurted out, “I love you—will you marry me?” Without hesitation, Ashley said yes.

To make the moment even more special, Ethan had arranged for Ashley’s sister and her best friend—a renowned photographer—to hide nearby and capture the entire proposal.

We are so excited to spend this lifetime (and the next) with each other. We can’t wait for more ski trips, to see the world together, and to grow our home, our family, and our love.