During the summer of 2019 Ian and Shelby lived separate lives but that was all about to change. Like most millennials, Ian and Shelby met online. Ian recalls seeing Shelby's profile and something stopped him dead in his tracks. Little did he know, Shelby also saw Ian's profile and decided to start up a conversation with "this cute guy who looked like he liked to have fun".

After a few weeks of talking about work, goals, favorite music...you know all the normal things, Ian and Shelby had worked out a day and time for their first date. Since they lived so far apart, meeting for the first time took longer than they had hoped, but both were excited to meet in person. Ian was getting ready to go on vacation and Shelby was coming back from vacation, so with only a small window - Ian suggested a breakfast date in Denver. Shelby said yes and a time was set.

On the morning of their first date, Ian was so nervous and excited to meet Shelby he showed up an hour early to the date. Before getting on her flight back to Colorado, Shelby talked to her mom about the date, not knowing Ian was already up and getting ready to meet her.

In their conversations prior to the first date, Shelby professed her love of coffee to Ian...so naturally, he had a cup ready for her when she arrived at their date. Ian remembers when he first saw Shelby he was star struck. So much so that he couldn't take his eyes off of her and was so nervous he ordered the wrong food for breakfast.

After eating, Shelby suggested Ian go with her to Trader Joe's, her second love behind coffee. Ian was just happy for more time with this incredible girl - little did he know he had caught the eye of Shelby and she was inviting him to go with as a little test.

Eventually, their first date came to an end. Shelby went back home and Ian got ready to go on his vacation. The two talked every day he was gone. Ian was already head over heels for Shelby and on his vacation his friends even joked "so when's the wedding?"

After getting home, Ian and Shelby made plans for their second and third dates. Which led to another and another. By this time, Ian knew he had fallen in love with Shelby and Shelby knew she was in love with Ian. Shortly after Ian's birthday, Shelby asked Ian to be her boyfriend at an Avs game. From that day on, Ian and Shelby were practically inseparable.

Only apart during the week, Ian and Shelby traded weekends driving four hours round trip to spend as much time together as possible. By Thanksgiving, Ian knew he was going to ask Shelby to marry him. A few months passed and the two explored Colorado and grew closer. By the end of January, Ian had purchased an engagement ring for Shelby, asked her parents for their blessing and was making plans to ask Shelby to marry him. Before Ian could, both Shelby and Ian travelled to Arkansas for job interviews and with new jobs secured Ian knew the best way to ask Shelby to be his wife.

As they had been crossing off items on their Colorado Bucket List, one towards the top was the perfect setting for asking Shelby. With some help from Shelby's mom, Ian planned a snow-shoeing hike outside of Estes Park (one of Ian and Shelby's favorite places in Colorado) the first weekend of March. Before getting to their hike, Ian was once again so nervous, and spilled coffee all over his jeans. Shelby always the calm one had a quick laugh and found a store for them to stop at for Ian to get a change of clothes and a bite to eat. As they arrive to their hike, Ian's luck was again not in his favor as there wasn't enough snow to snow-shoe but instead a slushy walk was in store. After walking most of the trail, Ian saw a place to pull off and sit with Shelby. The two talked about their upcoming move to Arkansas, leaving Colorado, and their excitement towards the future. As they got ready to leave, to Shelby's surprise, Ian got down on one knee and asked Shelby to marry him. She said 'yes!'

As the month came to an end, life as we knew it changed. COVID-19 became a global pandemic. Ian and Shelby prepared to move to Arkansas at the onset of the pandemic...but despite this they felt like luck was on their side. Having been some of the last hires in their fields before a hiring freeze, finding a place to live that was perfect for the two of them without seeing it in person, and shortly after moving adopting a puppy they named Momo.

Ian and Shelby thank God for the blessings He has provided them. From bringing the two best of friends together, leading them down a path of happiness, God has been by their side every step of the way. Ian and Shelby are thrilled to share their special day with friends and family at the end of the year, and hope to see you there!