Hope: We went to Oktoberfest in downtown Cincy back in September of 2019! Ian first took me to dinner downtown at a resturant called LaLo. We proceeded to head to Oktoberfest where we met up with one of Ian's close friends and his girlfriend - Jon and Liz! Jon and Liz are now some of our best friends!

Ian: I remember wanting to take Hope on a date that was both romantic and fun. Good food, beer, fireworks that ended with a ferris wheel ride in downtown Cincy!

P.S. we wore matching outfits on accident this date

Hope: Anything outside! My favorite days are long hikes/walks with Ian and our pup Eli. Also pickleball when the weather is nice!

Ian: Very generically, I like traveling and being outdoors with Hope. More specifically skiing. Hope and I first connected through UC ski club and we both enjoy taking ski trips together!

Hope: I first met Ian freshman year of college when Ian and my roommate when on a date. Our paths didn't cross again until my junior year where I decided to join the ski club with some girlfriends. Ian was the president of the club at the time, and hosted an event at a local bar (Ladder 19 for all our UC folks) where we connected again.

Ian: I hosted a bar event for the UC ski club. I was passing out free drink tickets to all of the club members, keeping my eye out for the good looking ladies ;) I recognized Hope as a familiar face which sparked conversation and a handful of free drink tickets. She thought I was so cool being the ski club president. The rest is history!

Hope: My goodness where do I even begin? Ian took me to try on rings back in May of 2023 where I got an idea of what I liked. After that, Ian was pretty quiet in terms of proposing. I truly had no idea when it was coming! After Christmas that year, I began to wonder if it would ever happen! January 2024 rolled around and we had three ski trips planned - one out in Steamboat Colorado, another in Big Sky Montana and the last for Ian's birthday in Snowshoe West Virginia. I was CONVINCED he would do it on that last trip for his birthday, since it would just be the two of us. The morning of January 20th, I got up and got ready for a great ski day with friends, not thinking AT ALL about our engagement. It was a beautiful day with bright blue skies and we got up to the top of the mountain to take some standard "couples" photos. We went second, and next thing I know Ian is down on one knee! I was SO surprised and of course said yes!

Ian: I remember taking Hope ring shopping because I truly had no idea what she would like or what I would get her. That first ring shop experience was a big wake up call into me deciding if Hope was "the one." Over the next few months, I toyed with the idea of proposing and what ring to buy for her. I spoke with my mom about receiving her original engagement ring so that I could incorporate a family diamond into Hope's engagement ring. This took some time to coordinate and to get the ring made. I didn't get her engagement ring until October of 2023. At which point, I still had no plans as to how I was going to propose. I decided it was time to call Hope's dad, Jim Whiteside and ask for his blessing. As I was thinking of when to propose, our ski trips came up as potential ideas, since it's a hobby we both enjoy (and makes for some pretty scenery). I picked our Steamboat trip because our good friends Jon and Liz (yes the same Jon and Liz from our first date) were hosting us and I know Jon would be a good friend in helping me coordinate our proposal. I had originally planned to propose later in the afternoon but Jon encouraged me to do it in the morning where the weather was perfect. On the first gondola ride up the mountain that morning, I was so nervous about what I was going to say. It was a surreal moment and one of the happiest days of my life. Our proposal was followed up with champagne on the mountain!