It all started at Utica College, where our paths first crossed—not once, but twice. We both attended Utica for undergraduate and graduate school, but it wasn’t until physical therapy school that our stories really started to intertwine.

While we didn’t spend much time together during undergrad, we shared overlapping social circles. Grad school was a bit different. We started running into each other more—at parties, gatherings, and study sessions—and a connection began to form.

When it came time to plan for our third clinical rotation, life gave us an unexpected nudge. Both needing to complete a 12-week rotation in Albany, NY, we decided to share an apartment. Over those three months, we grew close, building a strong friendship as we explored local trails, spent time with friends, and enjoying the capital region of NY. By the time the rotation ended, an unspoken attraction had begun to grow between us—though we never acted on it while living together.

One unforgettable moment during our time in Albany was at a Zac Brown Band concert. Amid the crowd and the music, we found ourselves trying to navigate our way to the bathrooms. After weeks of living together and feeling the spark between us, we finally gave in to the attraction we both felt. With a little liquid courage, one of us reached out, and for the first time, we held hands. It was a simple gesture, but it felt like the start of something bigger—a quiet acknowledgment of what had been building between us.

After that clinical rotation, we each moved back home. Despite the distance, we kept in touch and started making plans to see each other—hiking, visiting breweries, and simply spending time together. It didn’t take long before we realized there was definitely something special happening.

Eventually, we couldn’t ignore the connection we shared. What started as friendship had quietly grown into something deeper, something undeniable. Taking the leap felt both exciting and natural—like the next chapter in a story we were meant to write together.

As our relationship grew, we started dreaming about what life would look like after graduation. At first, Tyler was set on staying in Central New York, with no interest in traveling. Courtney, on the other hand, had always envisioned exploring new places. Over time, Tyler’s perspective started to shift—thanks to multiple out-of-state clinical rotations and some subtle (read: basically effortless) convincing from the woman he was falling deeply in love with.

Our traveling adventures kicked off with a cross-country drive from Arizona to New York after finishing another clinical rotation. Courtney flew out to Arizona, and together, we embarked on a week-long journey of car camping, close calls with mechanical issues, and once-in-a-lifetime sightseeing at places like Horseshoe Bend and White Horse Canyon.

The grand finale of the trip came when we decided to tackle a sunrise hike in the George Washington-Jefferson National Forest. Both of us terrified, yet neither of us said a word—we didn’t want to admit our fear or risk making the other person turn back.

Love has a way of inspiring big changes, and this was no exception. Together, we embarked on a 4.5-year adventure as traveling physical therapists. Our journey took us across the country seven times, living in eight different states and moving to more than 10 different locations. Each new place brought challenges, memories, and moments that deepened our bond.

Some of our most cherished memories come from the road trips between contract locations—journeys that often stretched across multiple time zones.

Among the craziest trips was our long drive from New York to California—a two-week adventure, packed with sightseeing, spontaneous tourism, and unstructured escapades that could suffice a lifetime for some.

This trip included a two-car caravan tour through the Badlands in South Dakota. Since we both needed separate cars for our next contract, we had to drive the entire trip separately. A pair of walkie-talkies became our lifeline, turning us into each other’s tour guides. We called out cool sights and animal spottings, pulling off to explore together whenever something caught our eye.

The same trip took us through Cody, Wyoming, Yellowstone National Park, and Grand Teton National Park, with a memorable camping night on Antelope Island. Despite the swarms of flies on Antelope Island, it was an unforgettable experience.

Our travels allowed us to build lifelong friendships in places like South Carolina, Washington, California, and Vermont. We experienced cultures and foods we never knew existed and became skilled at taking risks, living life to the fullest, and adapting to whatever challenges came our way.

There are countless more journeys and adventures we’d love to share, but we’ll spare you the novel-length version of our story and move on to the next chapter.

After years of adventure and moving from one place to the next, we eventually found ourselves in Colorado, where we’ve decided to settle down—at least for now. This beautiful state has become our home, where we’ve embraced new opportunities and challenges.

Courtney took a leap of faith in transitioning from human physical therapy to canine physical therapy. It was a risk, but her passion for helping animals and the desire for a fresh challenge made it the perfect next step. She’s now working in a field that brings her so much joy and fulfillment.

Meanwhile, Tyler took a bold step by opening his own private-pay physical therapy clinic while continuing to build his online business. The decision was full of uncertainty, but the excitement of creating something of his own and helping people on a deeper level outweighed the risks.

Together, we've continued to embrace change and growth, forging our path in a new chapter of our lives.

Before the big move to Colorado, Tyler began scheming about the proposal and engagement ring. Knowing it might be a while before we were home again, he took the opportunity to ask Courtney’s father for his blessing. With that important step completed, the next challenge was finding the perfect way to ask her the big question.

Once we settled just north of Denver, Tyler got to work. Armed with a few family heirloom stones, he started searching for a jeweler who could help create a one-of-a-kind ring. In the meantime, he needed a place to hide the stones—and his sock drawer seemed like a foolproof option. Unfortunately, that foolproof plan didn’t account for one of the rings somehow finding its way onto the floor under the dresser. One night, while cleaning up the bedroom, Courtney discovered it. NOT ideal.

Tyler had to think quickly. Without missing a beat, he came up with a story: the ring must have been left by a previous tenant. To make the tale convincing, he even texted the landlord to fill him in on the emergency so he could corroborate the story if needed. Crisis averted (thank God for Courtney’s gullible nature).

With the secret still intact, Tyler worked tirelessly to finalize the ring design with the jewelers. This part took time. For any of you who were involved in Tyler’s logo-making process, you know how painfully drawn-out his decision-making can be. (Let’s just say “decisive” isn’t the first word that comes to mind when describing him.) Between that and Courtney’s naturally observant and inquisitive nature, pulling it off felt like a small miracle.

Eventually, all that was left was deciding when and where the proposal would take place.

In true Courtney-and-Tyler fashion, it had to happen during a hike.

The chosen location? Moab—a spot they’d visited together during their first road trip and one that held a special place in their hearts.

(And also we had happened to be heading out there for a weekend get away a few weeks after the ring making process had finished).

After hiking a few miles to a massive arch, they began the journey back. Of course, they couldn’t leave without snapping some photos. Tyler meticulously set up his phone and their nice camera to capture the perfect view—red rock formations, a valley below, and the essence of Moab’s beauty. Courtney rolled her eyes as usual.

The process took a few attempts. Either Courtney was walking away too quickly, or both dogs weren’t in the frame (which, let’s be real, was NEVER an option). Amidst the chaos, Tyler managed to sneak to one knee.

On a quiet, often-overlooked trail, with a stunning backdrop and Porter and Cascade by their side, Tyler finally popped the question. Courtney, completely unsuspecting, was stunned.

It was a moment of surprise, joy, and love—one that perfectly encapsulated our story and the adventurous life we’d built together thus far.