Our story began in June 2022, when Ashlynn was working at Bryan Hospital and Joey was stationed nearby with the Army. After finding out that Joey would be spending his 25th birthday alone, Ashlynn decided to reach out and make plans to meet. Their first date was on July 16th at JC BBQ in Junction City, Kansas—a cozy meal that neither of them realized would be the start of something life-changing.
If you ask Ashlynn, she was sure she’d never see Joey again after that weekend. But to her surprise, he didn’t ghost her—and instead, they both found themselves wanting more.
Over the next two and a half years, they built their relationship long distance, meeting up for weekend trips across Nebraska, Kansas, and Iowa. Despite the miles, their bond grew stronger through countless late-night conversations, laughter-filled visits, heartfelt notes slipped into duffle bag pockets, and a shared mission to discover the best ice cream and coffee shops wherever they went.
Joey knew Ashlynn was the one not from one interaction—but from their instant, yet growing, connection and ability to laugh until their stomachs hurt. For Ashlynn, it was Joey’s ability to match her humor (and not run for the hills), along with how seamlessly he blended in with her two sisters, like he’d always been part of the family.
The proposal was simple, intimate, and perfectly “them.” As part of their routine, Joey and Ashlynn often take evening walks to talk about life, dreams, and everything in between. On one of those walks, Joey had secretly arranged a “doggy day trip” and surprised Ashlynn with a puppy named Emsley. As they strolled through the neighborhood with their temporary four-legged friend, Joey proposed at a quiet dog park near their apartment—a small, sweet moment that captured everything their relationship is built on: love, laughter, and a lot of heart.
Now, we're so excited to start this next chapter—and we can’t wait to celebrate it with all of you!