We met in high school, in the most unexpected of places - our freshman German class. Avery had just moved from Wisconsin to Missouri, and came a month after school started. When she was placed in her seat on her first day, she tried making conversation with the boy with a friendly smile that sat next to her. That boy was Zach!

As we sat through our German classes together, we struck up conversation and quickly realized we had a lot in common. We both loved video games, music, Spongebob, and had a shared interest in learning new languages.

Before we knew it, we were spending all of our free time together, going on long walks in the nearby parks, getting ice cream, watching movies at the theater, and simply enjoying each other's company. As we grew closer, our friendship blossomed into something more, and we became high school sweethearts.

We had been planning a vacation to Colorado for months. We were looking forward to exploring Avery's home state together, attending a concert at the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre, and spending quality time with her family and best friends. Little did Avery know, this vacation was going to be one of the most memorable trips of her life!

During our trip, we visited the stunning Garden of the Gods Park, where we walked around and took pictures of the picturesque scenery. It was one of the first places Zach had gone to when he previously visited with Avery back after we graduated high school, so it was always a special spot for us. As we walked around and made our way to the end of a trail, Zach surprised Avery by getting down on one knee and asking her to marry him. Without hesitation, she said yes!

But, that wasn't the only surprise Zach had planned. As we walked back up the trail, Avery saw her whole family standing there, cheering for them. Her dad was also there, having flown in to surprise us on this special occasion. It was the perfect proposal in the most breathtaking setting, surrounded by the people Avery loved the most. Now, as we prepare to say "I do," we cherish the memories of that magical day in Colorado and look forward to a lifetime of love and adventure together!