Our story starts with a dating service that neither of us realized we’d signed up for. Maggie's Matchmaker, founded by Caitlyn's cousin and Zach's longtime friend Maggie, managed to connect us as two people who seemed to be compatible. While we both were surprised by what eventually happened, both decided to give it a shot. Starting with a first date, July evening filled with queso and margaritas was apparently enough to convince this lucky guy to win over this anxious, wonderful woman and secure a second date. Everything was going great and following Maggie's plan until about an hour before our scheduled third date, when a severely hungover Zach decided to cancel. The third date finally happened a couple of weeks later over ice cream at Graeters to both parties' delight. But Zach still had one more important person to impress—Caitlyn's dog, Winnie. As a self-proclaimed dog whisperer, Zach had no trouble convincing Winnie that he was the one for her mom.

As time went on, we spent more and more time together, and Caitlyn was invited to a family pumpkin-carving event. After spending time with Zach’s family, he realized he was falling in love, which he surprisingly confessed to her after a long day of tailgating and football in November. Our story continued with shared moments over holidays, concerts, sporting events, walks with Winnie, and cozy nights in, enjoying each other's company. The love and joy we felt for one another only grew into a deeper, lasting bond. Knowing we both wanted to spend the rest of our lives together, Zach knew it was time to take Caitlyn on the most memorable walk of her life. On a tree-lined path in Anchorage Trail, Zach got down on one knee and asked Caitlyn to spend forever with him.

As we count down to our wedding day, we are incredibly thankful for all our family and friends who have shown us what love truly is and how to recognize when two people are meant to be. We can’t wait to continue living out the rest of our story, together, until the very end.

Zach planned the most beautiful surprise for me. He told me we were meeting his family for dinner at the Village Anchor before they left for spring break. But little did I know, he had something much more special in store. He had organized a surprise picnic at Anchorage Trail, complete with my favorite flowers on the table and a hidden photographer ready to capture the moment. We arrived early for dinner, and Zach suggested we take advantage of the unusually warm spring day by going for a walk. As we strolled, he seemed unusually quiet, and I tried to strike up a conversation, but he remained focused. Despite my very entertaining story about the squirrels in the trees up ahead. Then, as we rounded a corner, I saw the picnic spot up ahead. I stopped in my tracks and grabbed his arm, saying, "We probably should go meet your family now." Zach laughed and urged me to keep walking. He then said, "No, we aren't going to the Village Anchor, come on".

At that moment, he took both my hands in his, told me he loved me, and got down on one knee. With tears in his eyes, he made a sweet and heartfelt declaration of love, and then, with a trembling voice, he asked, "Will you marry me?" I was overwhelmed with emotion and said yes multiple times, urging him to stand up. After a brief moment, he finally placed the ring on my finger. The joy I felt in that moment was indescribable, and it truly was perfect in every way.

As I took in the beauty around me, I noticed the photographer and the thoughtful details he had planned, like the champagne for a toast and the picturesque bridge for our photos. But the surprises didn’t stop there. Zach had gathered our families and close friends at his parents’ house to celebrate with us! It was a beautiful, unforgettable evening, filled with love and support as we take this next step in our journey together. As Zach described all the people who had been involved in planning and coordinating this incredible moment, I sat there in disbelief, stunned by how many had helped pull off the surprise. Friends and family who had listened to my suspicions, all while cleverly steering me in the wrong direction, had played their part in making sure everything went off without a hitch. I couldn't help but marvel at the web of lies and secret collaborations that had been spun to ensure that Zach’s plan went smoothly. It was almost comical to think about how many people had been in on it, all working together to create this beautiful surprise. I was in awe of the effort and love that went into making sure I was completely caught off guard, and it made the moment all the more special.