How We Met:

Steve and I first met over a game of pool at a bar in Seattle called the Iron Bull. We talked most of the night but no numbers were exchanged. Steve jokes he was playing hard to get but the real story is that he was nervous to ask me out. The next week some friends invited us both to go dancing and he must have been impressed with my moves because he finally asked me on a date. Every day is a new adventure with Steve and I'm so delighted to have such a fun partner in life. We've been skydiving (our 3rd date!), hiking, backpacking, canoeing, skiing, traveling abroad, and we still play pool sometimes.

The Engagement:

I had decided around May that I would ask Heidi to marry me. It was good timing because we were going back to visit her family later in the month where I would have the opportunity to (very nervously) ask her parents for her hand in marriage. Fast forward to the beginning of July: I bought the ring and enlisted Heidi's friend Nicole to help me propose. After brainstorming, we decided on a simple surprise at Greenlake, where Heidi and Nicole routinely go on walks around the lake. I was to wait at one of the docks, which I had laid out with roses and wine corks with my photographer and friend, hiding in the bushes ready to take pictures of the occasion. Heidi was running late, to which Nicole's credit, was due to the fact that she convinced Heidi to take her time getting ready. She would be very grateful for this considering what unfolded next! I stood on the dock with a portable speaker playing some love songs, holding a bouquet of chocolate and a bottle of champagne, anxiously awaiting their arrival. When Heidi and Nicole finally came into view, Nicole said to her, "Hey what's going on over there? Let's check it out!". Heidi was very confused, and not recognizing it was me, thought it would be rude to intrude on what looked like someone's proposal. Imagine my horror at this moment seeing Heidi shaking her head and reluctantly taking steps forward. Once she recognized me, we both started crying and as she approached the dock I nervously got on one knee and pulled out the ring. I had planned a lengthy and eloquent speech to tell her how much I loved her but I could only muster up the words, "Will you marry me?". And as you can imagine, she said yes!