As some may know (though most probably don't since Kari doesn't let Ryan share this story), these two met for the first time in an elevator while heading to an all hands meeting for AWS. The first thing Kari noticed about Ryan was his huge, warm smile. The first thing Ryan notice about Kari was how beautiful she was (though, that wasn't until Sales Kickoff 2018 as Ryan doesn't remember the elevator ride).

This by-chance elevator meeting was the spark that would lead to collaboration as colleagues; this collaboration as colleagues would lead to a friendship that would be solidified by NBA final parties (thanks, Ken!), AWS Kickball teams, driving range visits, and Friendsgiving get togethers. But where this spark and friendship really started to burn was on a four person team in October of 2018.

In October of 2018 Kari joined a new team at AWS, after Ryan had successfully recruited her and two other colleagues (Gareth and Jarrod). This team had all the ingredients to create a strong bond between it's members: it was brand new, the scope wasn't well defined, it was hard to know the right move, and it was full of four people and one manager with a deep desire to make an impact both for the company and for each other.

After several months on the sales floor, this team was moved into a side-kitchen room-converted-to-office as the sales team out grew their space. This room lent for some funny, open, and honest conversations due to being completely away from the rest of the group. In this room not only did the team bond to form lasting friendships with one another, but Ryan and Kari bonded through swapping dating stories (or horrors). Kari remembers one particularly telling conversation in which she was sharing with Ryan her frustrations with the dating scene to which Ryan shared If I was a girl, I'd go on a date every day. It's free dinner. And while that line was funny (and Kari implemented it), she remembers another thing Ryan shared even more fondly. Ryan shared he too was looking for a serious relationship. And while he hadn't found it yet, he was optimistic and confident it would happen. And here, the spark began to burn (and Cooper would rat them out as their manager, Syesha, noticed he favored Ryan).

It was not long after this vulnerable conversation that Kari and Ryan found themselves out with friends in Ballard, where they accidentally-on-purpose found their way to King's Hardware, a bar made popular by its back deck, skee ball, and AMFs. Kari remembers standing near the back of the bar when a guy named Joe approached her. Kari had been introduced to Joe only moments earlier, but because he said he too was from Texas, assumed he was a good friend of Ryan's. In reality, Ryan had met Joe 8 hours prior during which he shared his crush on Kari. Joe being the ultimate wingman started asking Kari what she thought of Ryan and if Ryan asked her on a date what would she say? After a few tries at pointing out some logical red flags: they were on the same team, they worked at the same company, that could get messy, Kari told Joe to tell Ryan to shoot his shot. After this conversation, Joe went back to Ryan and told him he was in. A few weeks later, Ryan mustered up the courage to ask Kari on a first date to tacos and a concert. Now the fire was burning.

As they say in all good stories, the rest is history. Shortly after becoming 'official', Ryan introduced Kari to all-good-things-Austin: his parents, Taco Joint, the UT Campus, and Buckshots to name a few. Shortly after this trip, the two met Kevin Solka, Sara Solka, Matt Bronstein, and Janelle Klein for a cinco de mayo ski trip in Breckenridge, CO. Something Kari had always felt was important about her partners was to look at the people they surrounded themselves with and what they were like. This first introduction to Ryan's friends filled her with confidence that this man she was dating didn't only say he was a good person, but that at his core he genuinely was a good person. Good people attract good people.

Over the next year and a half, Kari and Ryan (pet names Peanut and Jelly, founded in Kari's love of peanut M&Ms) would embark on a number of adventures with each other and one another's friends. Ryan would undergo the ultimate test/interrogation from some of Kari's best friends Megan and Tina. They would venture to The Gorge with Hannah, Owen, and Brooke Sellers. They'd meet up with Shannon, Zane, Jackie, Ruby, Josh, Marissa, Clay and Madison in Dallas several times. They'd help Brooke and Andrew Sinner welcome their beautiful baby girl Elsie, and witness Ryan's brother Eric marry the love of his life, Megan. They'd venture to scope out D.C. with Steph and Ben, only to be joined by Kevin and Sara as they scoped out a new home for themselves.

In addition to navigating each others' social circles, they would endure quarantine and COVID19 together (and with their bubble-buddy, Morgan). Between social gatherings pre-COVID and binging series like Tiger King and The Queen's Gambit, Kari and Ryan would learn more about what was at each other’s core. Kari would grow to understand just how much Ryan idolized his father and just how much the Jewish culture and carrying on its legacy meant to Ryan. Ryan would learn how important it was to Kari that people feel loved, included, and welcomed just as they are - that one of her goals in life was to make no person feel ashamed of themselves. In between these light moments watching Netflix and serious conversations they set the stage to know they wanted to build a life together. Not just during quarantine or their young adulthood but forever. Now the fire was smoldering.

And no, they don't mean the movie (though if you haven't seen The Proposal it's a must-watch).

After several (5+) ruined vacations due to COVID, Kari thought nothing of it when Ryan shared he wanted to take her on a date while they were in Austin, TX for Thanksgiving. She also thought nothing of it when Ryan said he knew she loved to dress up, and that she should bring a fancy outfit for this date in Austin.

On the night of their date Kari was completely unsuspecting - her parents had been normal, his parents had been normal, his mom even asking what she meant when she made a joking comment about wanting a sapphire for Christmas. She had a feeling they'd get engaged in 2021 but never would have guessed it would happen in 2020.

Admittedly, she grew a bit suspicious when on the night of the date they pulled up to Mount Bonnell. If you're not familiar (and in case you are from Seattle and reading this), Mount Bonnell is not so much a mountain as it is a gorgeous lookout point in Austin, TX. To reach the top, visitors climb ~75 organic (i.e. steep) steps, but it is nothing like the Mount Rainier, Mount Sai, or Mount Baker hikes Pacific-Northwesterners are used to. It is for this reason the first time Ryan took Kari to Mount Bonnell in 2019, she had worn hiking clothes (expecting at least 4 miles with 1,000 feet in elevation gain). For this date, Ryan shared he wanted them to take a few cute pictures and watch the sunset before continuing on for the rest of their evening.

As stated, Kari was initially suspicious Ryan may be proposing when they rolled up to Mount Bonnell in their fancy attire. However, Kari being the sleuth she is, checked Ryan's pockets for a ring or box outline as they exited the car and after seeing nothing, decided no they were certainly not about to get engaged. His pockets could not have been flatter.

After finding a spot looking over Lake Austin, Ryan suggested they play a game he had found on TikTok. In this game, they would go from A to Z, sharing a memory of their relationship for each letter. The pair took turns swapping stories, talking about their first trip to Austin, their Cinco de Mayo ski trip to Colorado, Ryan's Interegation by Kari's friends, their adventures (i.e. hangovers) during Quarantine and more. When they reached Z, Kari blurted out Z is for Zimmerman though it wasn't her turn (if you know her, you know she is not one to hold her tongue). Ryan said yes, that is right Z is for Zimmerman. After this statement, Ryan shared he had a rock in his boot. Kari being the literal realist questioned how Ryan, who was wearing jeans over cowboy boots, had a rock in his shoe while she was wearing open toed pumps and had managed to keep rocks out of her shoes. It was at this moment Ryan grabbed her hands, pulled her up, and after sharing Z was for her new last name, asked her to marry him. Kari responded with yes, do you know which finger it goes on? It was a Moot point.


Now the fire was growing.

If you have come to this site and read to this point, you mean the world to Ryan and Kari (unless you found this page via Google in which case that's a little strange).

As they close the chapter of girlfriend/boyfriend and fiances, it is important to them to start this next chapter surrounded by those they love, who have cheered them on along the way as both individuals and a couple. You are the kindling to keep this fire burning. The accountability buddies to remind them of the promises they made to one another on this day, the sages to remind them anything worth having is worth fighting for, their supports for not only the hora (Kari is terrified) but in life as a married couple too.

In the words of Kari and Ryan -

We cannot wait to celebrate our marriage with you. As we write this at the end of 2020 and in a time of so much unknown, fear, and sadness, we have been so blessed to have each other and each of you. We know this night will be one we never forget and we love that each of you will be a part of this memory.