"We were truly clueless in the beginning about how much we would mean to each other in later years.

Even though Jake and I were “friends” in middle school, our families love to remind us we have always had feelings for each other and we just didn’t know. His parents fondly remember hastily saying goodbye to other friends and running to catch up with him and talk almost every day after school." - H

"Throughout middle school, there would be little interactions such as stealing my hoodie or hanging out with only me at recess. It really wasn’t until 8th grade that I started to realize that I liked her as more than a friend." - J

"High school started with both of us finally working through what everyone else saw plain as day and admitting our feelings to each other at the same time. This made asking her to be my girlfriend a lot easier." - J

"I wouldn’t necessarily say our new relationship differed from our friendship, which is just a testament to how oblivious both of us were. Regardless, we continued to be inseparable all through high school, and never really doubted we would be together. We were always a priority to the other." - H

"College brought a ton of new experiences for the both of us. I moved out, was cramming a 4-year degree into 3, and worked all the time. His grueling course days immediately transitioned into a job as a firefighter, so needless to say, we were busy." - H

"During college, a lot of our dates were study dates, but we never compromised on supporting each other’s goals and passions, and always celebrated each other’s wins. The hardships that we experienced always brought us together, and we cherished every moment we were together." - J

"We had talked about waiting to get engaged until after Hannah graduated, but one day the November prior, I woke up and felt like it was time. Trying to keep that feeling to myself as I bought the ring, talked to her parents, and planned to propose during our Hawaii trip over her birthday was almost impossible.

The first morning we were in Hawaii, we walked on the beach as the sun came up. As she was admiring the ocean, a whale crested the waves and I used that split second to get down on one knee, ready to ask her the big question." - J

"I can’t pinpoint a time that I suddenly knew he was the one. Did I ever not think that? Regardless, as soon as my clueless self saw him get down on his knee, I cut him off with a squealing yes, with a few verrrrry happy jumps. He likes to say he had a speech planned, but we’ll never know, and I didn’t want him changing his mind." - H

"Since that amazing day, we have been really starting to build our life together. As I’m sitting here writing this I am realizing that I am truly blessed to have such a beautiful, amazing person in my life." - J

"Since the proposal, we have continued to grow together, and I can't wait for the day I finally get to say "I do" to my forever other half. Cheers!" - H